Today I Did Not Walk the Cinder Path

No, today the cinder path was under water. 
The cinder path had become quite a challenge for this somewhat mobility impaired old girl.  Yes, it looked like a short cut of sorts, but...How uneven was the terrain?  How pokey would those stones feel stuck in my socks?  Would I be able to negotiate the step up from the parking lot level to the cinder path level?  What if some really fast walking hottie came up behind me and laughed at my slow moving ass?  Or pushed me down and I fell off the cinder path?
 For weeks I would hobble past the cinder path, taking the longer, safer way to my Ancient Vehicle.  (Who now sports an incredibly overpriced brand new brake line, but we won't EVEN go there!) But two weeks ago I threw caution to the stereotypical wind and walked the cinder path.  It was kind of crookedy and a tad scary but I loved the crunchy sound my clogs made as I trundled along.  Nobody knocked me down and I didn't collapse on my own.
Guess what?  On the cinder path there is shade.  On the cinder path there is a breeze.  On the cinder path the buildings all look closer.
So today, after ANOTHER whoop-yer-ass middle of the night storm, the cinder path was flooded like most of the streets and sidewalks in the area.  I sort of expected it, but still it broke my heart.
My two last and most difficult finals were today and walking the cinder path would have made me feel fittingly triumphant.  But, not today.