Until recently, the only time I made a New Year’s resolution was during the waning days of 1976. My intent back then was to ditch the cigarette habit I’d been enjoying for a dozen years. Man, I did it, starting a few days later on the first of January, though I had a low-level relapse in 1982 that didn’t reach its conclusion till 1985.
Several weeks ago, the circumstances were right once again for the New Year’s resolution thing. That’s because an annual health checkup, in mid-December 2019, revealed that my glucose level had inched a bit over the top of the normal range. Crap! What was a very-aging boy to do if he wanted to try and prevent diabetes from setting in? Well, some dietary changes definitely were in order. As in, cutting back on the carbs. And the time also had arrived to up the hours that I spend in motion, as opposed to those spent while sitting on my wrinkly ass. The experts seem convinced, you see, that a decent amount of sustained movement each week can help many people drive their glucose numbers southward. Ergo, since early January, in addition to the energy I expend running errands and chasing my own tail, I’ve been taking four or five half-hour walks each week.
Most of the walks have been in my suburban neighborhood which, unlike the rest of the town, is hilly as hell (I live near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA). Going uphill on the steep slopes is good, obviously, for my exercise regimen, though there’s no doubt I’ll be withdrawing that statement if the exertion precipitates a cardiac event. That’s assuming I survive said event, of course. So far, however, I haven’t needed the assistance of emergency medical personnel or of an undertaker, so I’ll stop that train of thought in its tracks. Let’s return to the walks.
While pounding the pavement on January 22, I noticed a couple of things that ordinarily wouldn’t have jumped out at me but, for reasons unknown, this time did. “Yeah, shadows!” I silently exclaimed to myself, at the end of the walk, when I saw some of them on the sidewalk near my house. “Shadows are cool. I’ll scour the neighborhood for shadows on the next walk. That’ll give me something to write about for the blog. The story won’t be amazingly interesting, but so what? Nobody expects anything all that interesting from old f*cks like me anyway.”
January 23 soon enough arrived. As I left my house that day at 11:30 AM, the temperature of about 42°F (6°C) was bracing but not all that bad. The skies were clear, so our pal The Sun was able to help cast shadows right and left. Ordinarily I listen to podcasts on my iPhone while walking in the hood, to avoid becoming bored shitless. But this time I was podcast-less, the better to focus on my mission. And so focused was I, an hour sped by before I knew it. I hadn’t expected to be out that long. At the end of the hour I arrived back home, having gotten plenty of exercise, and with a bunch of photos of shadows sitting within the phone.
I’ll say it again: Shadows are cool. They are shape-shifting, darkened, alternate images of what passes for reality. They have no substance at all, as far as I, a guy who nearly flunked high school physics, know. And yet, there they are. Not only that, they’re everywhere, they’re everywhere! Well, almost everywhere. I hope that my voyage through the hood the other day doesn’t cause me to become fixated on shadows, as that would be a turn of events not the least bit appreciated. But I sure enough dug them during the session in which I sought them out.
Shadow-wise, I didn’t come across anything particularly unexpected. But that was okay. Tree shadows that spread mightily across fences and paved streets impressed me muchly, as did the dainty silhouettes of traffic signs. I envied the long fingers of the patterns created by play equipment in the kids’ section of the park two blocks from my abode. And everyday objects that I ordinarily wouldn’t give the time of day to, such as fire hydrants and recycling bins, received my blessings because of the endearingly goofy shapes that they produced.
Still, among all the pictures, how could I not most admire the one containing my own alter-image? I damn well have star appeal in that one, I’m certain everyone would agree. If any movie producers are reading this story (and why wouldn’t they be?) and are in need of a mysterious figure to lurk in the shadows of a movie scene or two or more (and why wouldn’t they be?), look no further. Lurking is my middle name. I am your man!
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Yeah, Another Blogger 
That recycling bin’s shadow looks like a nice little alien. And you cast a pretty nice shadow yourself.
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Hello. Audrey. I have the same thoughts about the recycling bin’s shadow.. And I like the way that the shadow bends.
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I love your “mission round the neighbourhood” posts. They’re exercises in looking, seeing the things we usually skip over, finding wonder in the commonplace. I’ll be hip to an alternate world today, where everything is dark, refracted and insubstantial. And my day will be infinitely richer for it.
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As always, thanks for dropping by and adding your thoughts. You’ve expanded the conversation.
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You have sun! That lovely yellow shadow- maker! 🙂 Here, it’s snowing. 😳
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Hi. My region usually gets a fair amount or more of snow every winter. So far this winter, though, there’s been almost no snow.
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Reflections are like shadows, sometimes more interesting than the objects they project.
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Hi. I agree. Shadows and reflections can be very amazing.
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Long may you lurk in the shadows! And yes, my doc (and wider medical opinion) seem to agree that walking does a power of good – as does fresh air. At the moment I achieve a half hour with my walk to work and back – I’ll have to work out how to achieve it differently soon!
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After you retire, keep walking back and forth to the office. But don’t go in the office!
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You know, I might just do that!
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I enjoyed your shadow sharing. Amazing what we become aware of when we turn off the noise e.g. podcasts, etc.
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Right, we become more open to what’s going on when we aren’t distracted by one thing or another.
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Well done you, Neil. What’s lurking in the shadows has been the mainstay for mysterious/murder stories for yonks. Those film-makers are no fools! When I go on a casual stroll to study the skies and cloud formations -. not forgetting to look down now and then – I also seek out the shadows.it’s fascinating what lurks ‘in the wings.’ Carry on ‘shadowing. Cheers.x’
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Hi Joy. Studying the skies and clouds is an excellent way to spend some time. See you!
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As my late father in law used to say; may your shadow never grow less!
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Hi Steve. I looked up that expression online, but I’m not exactly sure what it means. Please let me know.
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I’m not sure but I’ve always thought it to mean ‘hope you won’t fade away’ or in other words wishing someone ‘good health’.
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Absolutely lovely post, as usual! I’ve taken shadow photos of The Poodle and me but you took the concept to the next level. BTW, this year i did the dry January thing (and who knew it was such a “thing” now?!). For this Italian gal not having wine with dinner has been excruciatingly difficult! What a wife does to support her husband’s health goals….geesh! Cheers to your “new” health habit and keep it up! I’m sure with more walking in your daily routine we’ll have even more interesting posts to enjoy from you! Happy New Year. 😊🙏
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Hi Cristina, and many thanks for stopping by. Yeah, making dietary changes can be difficult. Pizza dough is supposedly a bad carb, so I’ve cut way back on pizza, which for decades has been possibly my favorite food.
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I hear you. I used to be a long-distance runner (ultra’s and marathons). Growing up, pasta was on kitchen table at least three times a week and pasta and good hearty bread kept me going through all those running years. Now pasta is on the table more like twice a month. This whole aging thing sucks! Still, I try to keep things in balance refusing to cut out entire food groups. It’s true that none of us will get out of here alive so it’s a fine line to navigate truly enjoying our food and libations and keeping reasonably fit and healthy at the same time. I’m not going down without a fight and sounds like you aren’t either!
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Good pasta dishes. Good breads. They’re the best!
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You reflect an interesting shadow, Neil. As does this post. It’s lovely what we can see. Hugs Xx
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Me and my shadow!
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Strolling down the avenue…
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From the ultimate superhero before superheros were even a ‘thing’.
I’m guessing your own laugh isn’t quite as maniacal as this one Neil –
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Hi Glen. There’s no question that The Shadow knows!
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COOL!
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Hey there, Joyce, and thanks.
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Shadows are indeed cool! And no matter where you live, there is something to notice. All you have to do is look. And walk. Hope your new regimen brings you many benefits.
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Yeah, it’ll be a drag if the added exercise doesn’t work.
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Another fun essay.Try as you may, you can’t ever out run your shadow. I know.Ii tried. Woo! Have a great day. Jerry
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Jerry, I predict that one day your shadow won’t be able to keep up with you!
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Great idea to have a mini goal for your walks. Sorry to hear of the impetus for them and hope your numbers respond nicely. Once I force myself out in less-then-stellar weather, it always feels great to be getting exercise and some fresh air; looks like you are experiencing the same!
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Hi Lexie. I didn’t think I’d be okay with all these walks, but so far so good. The podcasts have kept them from becoming boring.
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Cool idea. I like seeing my shadow stretch out, it’s the only time I look tall. When you’re not being shadowed and trying to lose your tail, what podcasts do you listen to?
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It’s called Music From 100 Years Ago. A bad title, because the guy plays music that mostly is less than 100 years old. But I like his shows. They are very interesting.
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Your new year plan sounds much like mine, except I’m dealing with rising cholesterol levels instead of glucose levels. I wish you the best!
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Thanks, Jennifer. Likewise.
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Shadows are cool! I can roughly tell when you were out and about by the length of the shadow. And, I do a cool project with students where they put their full-body picture with a shadow completely different. The popular one is the old guy with the shadow of a warrior.
Side note: If you don’t get enough exercise with all your walking, I don’t have a chance in h***!!
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🙂
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The shadow project that you do with your students sounds real good. Shadows have lots of uses!
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Cool! I love shadows, and your pictures of them!
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Many thanks. I appreciate it.
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Enjoyed seeing the shadow images, and good luck with the glucose! My glucose was creeping toward the high side and I cut out evening snacks (nothing to eat after an early dinner) and my glucose and blood pressure both went down. Either way, I’m enjoying your posts, thanks for sharing your journey!
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Thanks for stopping by. Instead of foods with carbs for evening snacks, I’ve switched to peanuts. Peanuts are mostly protein, not carbs, so they don’t break down into glucose. I believe that’s true for all types of nuts.
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I am glad to hear it. I love peanuts and have always felt guilty about snacking on them in the evening. Yay, no more peanut guilt.
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Shadows are cool! Some have a life of their own!
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You’re not kidding. Shadows can absolutely be full of surprises.
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Thank you for illustrating how I should look at my immediate world in an entirely new, expanded way!
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Oh, I’d guess that you already have an expanded way of viewing things.
Hi Paula. As always, it’s good to hear from you.
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I got the idea for walk goals from you (your green walk I think) and now I try to do the same, though only one has made it onto the blog (so far). It certainly makes walking the same old places more interesting if you have a quest.
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Right, and the unpredictability of what we find makes it all the more interesting.
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I love walking around my neighborhood. I tried to mix up the routes, but I’ve done them all hundreds of times over the past 10 years. I get a lot of thinking done When I walk.
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That’s really good. You get mental and physical exercise at the same time.
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To know you is to love you I guess. 😄
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👍👍
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I agree that shadows are cool. I like your photos and the idea that you’re intentionally looking for them. Of course there is an episode of Dr. Who wherein shadows are the kiss of death, but in the real world they add perspective.
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Hey there Ally. I’ve never watched Dr Who. I’ve read that the latest version has a female lead. Have you seen it?
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I’ve only seen part of one episode with the new Dr. Who, a woman. It was great, but I haven’t had the time to tune-in properly and consistently. A goal for the future, perhaps.
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I was trying to figure out a way to persuade you that I’m a major film producer interested in making a “Yeah, Another Lurker” series (because why not?). But I failed.
You have a delicious ability to make the ordinary special and fun and out-of-the-ordinary, so I thank you for that.
Good luck with your glucose levels. I am probably heading toward a very restrictive diet following testing next week, so perhaps we can all join in a mammoth whining session about our new limitations. Or preferably, we can say, “Screw it! We’re damn lucky”—and just move on—from shadows to sunlight.
Cheers!
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Hi Annie. Very restrictive diets are no fun, that’s for sure. I hope that whatever dietary changes you might have to make won’t be too disagreeable. Enjoy the weekend, See you!
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Great idea to have a mini goal for your walks
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My Shadow
BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none of him at all.
He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he’s a coward you can see;
I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!
One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.
Source: The Golden Book of Poetry (1947)
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A terrific poem! Thank you very much for adding it to this story. I appreciate that.
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When you have shadows, I suppose the sun is out. How pleasant to have a walk bathing in the sun! Silhouettes can be very atmospheric and mysterious.
I too have taken some shadowy photos of myself while having a jog. I look as if I were two meters tall on those photos. What a confidence boost considering my real height. Your post is as entertaining as they always are. Have a lovely weekend, Neil.
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Hi Isabelle. I’d never thought of shadows as being confidence boosters. But you’re right about that. Shadows can be interpreted in many ways!
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Yes, there is a lot to be said for shadows. Here is another example:
*Lost Lunch?*
Sunlight breaks thru clouds
and sends hawk’s shadow downward.
Prey darts for cover.
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An excellent example of shadows’ versatility.
Hi. Thanks for adding your thoughts. Much appreciated.
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“The shadow”as with old-time radio, The Thin Man and all styles of film noir have taken on new personalities in our modern day. How wonderful it is that you are conscientious about your health and are taking walks thru your neighboring hood. Just remember, to continue your day walks, because, evening walks can attract unfriendly, fiendish shadows! 😱
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Hi Over the years I’ve walked around my area a few times after sunset. But generally I stick to daylight. Thanks for dropping by. Be seeing you!
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A dark, bold shadow is one of the most beautiful things on earth, I think.
Happy walking and happy shadows!
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I have a feeling that I’m going to be more aware of shadows than before, now that I’ve written about them.
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Taking photos during your walk is one way to get in your exercise and have fun at the same time. I love shadows…And I remember as a child trying to make shadow puppets on the walls with my hands and a trusty flashlight. I think shadows are one of those things that we appreciate as children, and then take for granted as we age. Good for you for drawing our attention to them again!
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I was thinking of lunar eclipses a little while ago. I forget exactly, but I think they are Earth’s shadow projected onto the Moon.
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I think they are. And during the latest one in St. Louis, the shadows were amazing!
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I’m inclined to worry about you – shadows! Get a grip, man! It can’t be withdrawal symptoms from the cigarettes so I wonder what it is.
Pulling your leg!
Shadows – very deep, very dark, very mysterious!
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Paddy, what can I say? I’m sort of weird!
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As read on a greeting card: “You’re a good egg; a bit cracked, but good!”
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top post, Neil; I really enjoyed this one: both your ruminations on shadows and the snaps, esp the outline of that creepy guy on the sidewalk 🙂 btw great title too; getting a snappy title is an art in itself
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Thanks. Appreciated!
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Only your great writing could keep me entertained about shadows. As a person who moved from a flat place to an extremely hilly place, it does get easier (eventually).
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Hills! (Actually, I like them)
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Good for you Neil for taking action to keep yourself healthy. I hope you enjoy your walks, and your amazing shadows! Des
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Thanks, Des. I’m trying.
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What the hell time was it on that walk? The streets look deserted. Or, do your neighbors lock their doors and hide whenever they see your shadow coming?
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It’s a pretty quiet area. A typical, kind of boring suburban neighborhood. I go to Philadelphia a lot to add some spice to my life. Philadelphia saves me!
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Enjoyed your post (as always). Prompted an old song to come to mind . . .
Me and my shadow
Strolling down the avenue
Me and my shadow
Not a soul to tell our troubles to
And when it’s twelve o’clock
We climb the stair
We never knock
For nobody’s there
Just me and my shadow
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Hi. That’s a good song. Haven’t heard it in a long time. I’m going to give Judy Garland’s version a listen to. See ya!
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Your shadows are very cool Neil. I always think of them as little friends.
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Hi Michele. It’s nighttime where I live. I’m looking at the shadows created by the lamps in my living room. They have a whole lot of character.
Enjoy the upcoming week. See you!
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Ah, now a reason to walk more. I’m sure you will successful once beating back Old Father Time, Neil, as long as you keep moving!😘
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Hey there Pam. I just took a half-hour walk in my good old neighborhood. I’m trying!
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👏👏👏
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Reminded me of how I learned about shadows…..trying to step on them on walks with my dad.
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Yeah, stepping on shadows is something I haven’t done in ages. I’m going to try it!
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Lovely quirky post, Neil. My favourite is the fence, though that Wheelie bin is a close second – they remind me of cloud watching, something I love doing, but probably wouldn’t help your new health regime, as I’m convinced the best way to approach it is by lying back on a stretch of sunny lawn. Good luck with the walking.
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I like the fence photo too. It’s as though the shadows found a big canvas to display themselves on. Enjoy the rest of the week, Cath. Be seeing you.
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If you haven’t already read David Sedaris’s latest collection Calypso, you must — he’s taking up walking 😉
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Hi, and thanks for stopping by. Walking is where it’s at!
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There you go doing that walking thing again.”Lurking” takes you into a whole new category.
“Honey! There’s some man … lurking around our recycling bin, taking a picture. Should I phone the cops?” “Leave him alone, he’s having fun”
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Did you see the latest episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm? It ends with Larry and his pals getting tossed headfirst into garbage bins. Or maybe they were recycling bins. Anyway, I’d hate to have that happen to me!
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No I haven’t but nothing good happens around garbage cans especially after midnight when you’re out for a stroll or just lurking about. Be careful fella.
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Neil I love how you make discoveries! The shadows were cool. Btw, I have diabetes and exercise works wonders
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Exercise lowers your glucose levels?
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Absolutely! Better than dieting
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I have always suspected your were a shady character, Neil, and now you have confirmed it. 😉
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I figured that one day you would find me out. It was inevitable.
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You kept up the ruse for a looong time! 🙂
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Hey Neil,
Shadows are so cool! Happy walking!
Suzanne 😊
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They’re everywhere, they’re everywhere!
Hi Suzanne. Have an excellent weekend.
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I remember being fascinated by shadows as a kid. I haven’t really thought about them in a long time. A walk in search of shadows sounds like a great idea. Now to get the sun shining here through the dreary sky to actually make the shadow 😉
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Hey there, Christy. Have fun shadow-hunting. See ya!
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