THE BOOK OF DEBORAH

THE BOOK OF DEBORAH 6/25/24

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Deborah of old would certainly feel somewhat defeated with the goings-on of today. I mean no enemy's heads nailed to the ground to celebrate. At least none that we’ve heard of anyway. Today’s Deborah has decided to leave the depressed rut and consider something different.

On the way to the market today a young woman walking down the sidewalk caught my attention, which caused me to contemplate how people walk.

Today’s person was not so much walking as trudging. Let me describe the motion. Head forward, arms lagging, swaying slightly from side to side with each step. The Trudger is determined but not optimistic, possibly wondering why she was walking anywhere in the first place.

That thought brought me to the Wanderer—people walking somewhere but not sure they know where and certainly I don’t, so good luck with that adventure.

I didn’t want to mention the Cell-Phone Walkers we all need to watch out for, because they certainly aren’t. The only thing conscious about them is in their mind. There should be a rule, unless you are following GPS which alerts you to oncoming obstacles and traffic patterns you must stop to use.

Then I thought about a friend I knew long ago who I would call the Ballerina. He walked on the balls of his feet. Not tippy-toed but rarely did his heels strike the ground. He had a bad back which may have been the reason for this type of step, or maybe this step caused the bad back. Is he trying to sneak ahead of the pain?

Then there is the Glider, usually, women in maxi dresses who mysteriously move from one place to another without moving their legs. What’s going on under those skirts? Very suspect. There may be male Gliders but I’ve only seen them as fantasy characters in the movies.

Speaking of fantasy brings me to the Zombie Walkers. Feet and knuckles dragging on the ground. Eyes closed or death staring at nothing, dressed in something your mother wouldn’t have picked out, beings that are or will soon be extinct.

Not the last of the walking types but the most exasperating Slow Walkers. Always in front of the Fast Walkers in a crowded market like me who need to get home because I have to pee or I’m late to nail somebody’s head to the ground.