I’m a runner, not a walker.
But that all changed when I moved to the heart of downtown Salem where I am walking distance to pretty much everything. And just as you see more of a community running than driving, you see even more walking. And the slower you go, the more you see.So I took a walk, or more like an amble. Not to do an errand. Not a speed walk for exercise. A walk for the sake of taking a walk, strolling along as I considered the words to the Beatles song there are places I remember all my life, though some have changed.
Here is just some of what I saw.
Kids playing. Dogs walking. Fitness Walking. Outdoor fitness classes. Teens playing hoop. A large group of hula hoopers. A gold hoop earring someone is missing.
Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Friendship at the Wharf. Tourists taking photos of the Friendship. Friends having coffee.
Cars circling for parking spots. Cars being ticketed. Cars parking at the garage. A painting on the parking garage. Painted electrical boxes. A man boxing shadows on the common.
Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Outdoor seating. Outdoor dining. Outdoor music. Haunted music. Hawkers.
A wedding, man and women. Another wedding, woman and woman.Long time businesses thriving. Long time businesses out of business. New shops. Lots of shoppers.
Foreign visitors. Foreign languages. Out of state license plates. Stately homes. Multiple Nathaniel Hawthorne homes. Haunted houses trying to steal my soul. Preachers trying to save my soul.
Young love, old love. This city I love.
Tourists asking directions. Drivers not using directionals. Walkers not looking as they wander along in the street. Brakes slamming. Lots of swearing.
Trees changing colors. Trees I climbed. Trees that hung innocent victims.
Places I was bullied. Places I was happy. Memories that made me happy. Memories I wish I could forget. Reminders of things I had totally forgotten about.
Trolley tours. Walking tours. Walking slowly to try to listen to tours.
Cemeteries. Injustice. Sadness. Innocent people who were not witches. Real people trying to be witches.
Kids in costumes. Grown-ups in costumes. Grown-ups who are not really grown up.
A breathtaking sunset as darkness falls over the “witch” city.
The train arriving in Salem with its cargo of zombies. So many zombies.
Maybe running is a better idea after all.
