Yesterday I offered to walk with a friend of mine. She wanted to take a walk while we waited in the car for her husband to return from visiting a hospitalized friend. Since the neighborhood was unfamiliar, she was reluctant to walk by herself (and I think she's one of those people who prefers company most of the time).

I was glad for a chance to get out of the car and stretch my legs, so we started off at a brisk pace, talking as we walked about some authors and books we both like to read, tastes we have in common.

I was mortified to discover that my chest ached and I was huffing and puffing long before we returned to the car (you know I was too stubborn to ask her to slow down).

I have an old year's resolution: walking every morning after I arrive at work. I'm too anxious to walk before leaving the house (want to get to work on time) and I always get to work early, so it's a perfect time to walk, nice and cool and the sun has just come up.

[Yeah, I know, the sun doesn't come up; the earth turns. So sue me.]

I'm determined to get back into shape. With all the crises and emergencies, I had let my daily walk go by the board. Well, that has to stop. I'll admit that the chest pains and shortness of breath got my attention.