A walk can come to a halt at a perfectly unremarkable patch of grass. Your dog lowers their nose and stays there. The corner you were heading for will have to wait a moment.
Standing still, you have time to look farther down the path. A branch hangs over a fence you've passed all week. You notice its shadow on the sidewalk, then hear a gate closing somewhere behind you.
Some days, you need to keep moving. When there's time, though, it's pleasant to let one of these stops run a little longer. You can look around without also watching where to put your feet.
Then your dog lifts their head and walks on. You reach the corner and take the usual turn. At the next patch of grass, the inspection begins again.
Photography by Erik Mclean / Unsplash.
