A short sleep, a long day — these are good reasons to take a weekend walk on a weekday afternoon.

Such a stroll takes me out of the neighborhood, for one thing. So it automatically gives perspective. It’s long enough to break through the torpor and tightness. And it reminds me of sunny mornings and long evenings.

I walked through through a meadow and a woods, past a pond and a pool. I picked some miniature Queen Anne’s lace to press and send to Suzanne in Africa. I snipped some knockout roses from our bush out front, placed them in the tiny vase and set them on our kitchen table. They won’t last long, but that’s okay.

In the beginning of the walk, I was tense and tired. At the end, I was loose and awake.