B Burk

Walking the Bricks B Burk

Buster and I started writing " Walk Abouts" in January of 2014. The fact is it was six degrees outside, Buster, the Beagle would not go out, the battery in my camera was too cold, and I was questioning how I could get more pictures published in the New Castle Weekly. Why not write a short, good feeling article and send it in to Mimi and Earl Carpenter, the paper's owners? They printed the article, along with a photograph. That is almost how it started. Writing would be the last suggestion anyone that knows me would make. It turns out I needed multiple editors. Eileen, my wife, a retired high school English teacher, Irene, a retired judge, Dan, a still active philosopher, and Buster, my faithful Beagle and companion all provided support I keep a list of possible subjects, while current events increased the length of the list. I often use subject matter found in the Letters to the Editor, but with kindness and without name calling. If you anger people, they will never consider your ideas, and suggesting ideas to the town leaders are more palpable naked of any nastiness. An example of fodder from these letters was to have a dog yard, where dogs could run without a leash. See there may be more dogs in town than people. Another suggestion was to increase town parking. No changes in parking have been made in twenty years, while the visitors have increased. The third goal of the" Walk About" is to have a smile or laugh; life is just too hard these days to keep the twine together. It always wants to unravel. So put your feet up, and laugh. If the laughter is at me or about me, that's great! The fourth goal of the "Walk About" has been to promote walking, or riding one's bike. We were never made to be a sedimentary animal. It is amazing what a little exercise will do to improve one's health. Lastly don't forget the pictures. They speak louder and say more than any words I could ever write. People enjoy seeing something they are familiar with in the paper, even if it a picture of themselves. This book is a compilation of several "Walk Abouts", along with a multitude of local photographs, some previously published, but many newly released.