Five Mary Lincoln day lilies greeted me in the front yard and they are as beautiful as ever.

Yesterday, I ventured to the DMV to get a new driver’s license, lunch at Skyline Chili, then bussed over to Target where I crossed to the Dayton Mall to go to Spectrum which is in a satellite building, then over to the library at the Miami Township branch to renew my library card, and then right next door to the south hub to grab No. 17 for home.

It mapped out perfectly and most of everything after the DMV was spontaneous. It was a lot of steps for a slow walking person and a year ago I could have accomplished all the walking in much less time. There were moments I’d convince myself to speed up my pace and I did; but within a few minutes I was back to a snail’s pace.

To get to the DMV I needed to take No. 14’s bus which picks up over on Far Hills Avenue which is generally an 8-10 minute walk from my house. Yesterday, it took me all of 25 minutes to get there. Fortunately, I had anticipated a longer walk which included a visit to Grieve Hardware for about ten minutes of nosing around and hobnobbing with the other wizards. In the end, I was grateful for the 25 minutes because I got to enjoy all the neighbor’s beautifully tended and colorful front yards.

I figured I would be blanketed in aches upon waking but I am quite comfortable this morning with nothing nagging that isn’t the ordinary.

This afternoon, I’ll lunch with a dear friend whose daughter, now long graduated and married, was a student. My friend’s son is contemplating doing something in the technical aspects of the performing arts so I am to be a sounding board and guide.

Tomorrow is my bonus sister’s 57th birthday and the official three-month start to counting down to my own 57th birthday in September.

Saturday, another friend and I are heading down to Lebanon to lunch at The Golden Lamb.

This next week is the kickoff to Independence Day celebrations. I am taking it all one step at a time, hoping to not miss the Americana Parade in Centerville; however, I need to be home in the evening to comfort the dogs when the neighborhood fireworks begin.

I am ten minutes behind my morning schedule. Whatever you do today, make it a great day!