Morning rush

A row of palm trees — low-hanging fruit for an amateur photographer.

By John Murphy

I got four hours of sleep Thursday night, so I feel like a million dollars. Or at least half a mil.

I got up, finished writing a story, and watched some news. By 6 a.m. I was on my way from Highland to Redlands for my morning walk.

Eureka to Terracina and back is my groove. The sun isn’t up, but runners with reflective clothes whiz by.

I have my Spotify tuned to Alt Country, as usual. Son Volt, Guy Clark, Steve Earle … the usual suspects.

I pass the Olive Avenue Market. It has a sign in the window saying, “First Stater Bros. store, 1937.” I knew this at one point but forgot.

McKinley School, a treasure for the poor to find (as Townes Van Zandt would say).

McKinley School is on the left. It opened in 1904, a year before the Giants’ Christy Mathewson punked the A’s three times in the World Series. Mathewson went 31-9 that year, which probably earned him a pay cut.

I pass cute bungalows, palm trees, and an orange grove. The owner of a large mansion peddles oranges at $5 a bag. “Thank you for being honest,” the sign says.

As Steve Earle sings “Pancho and Lefty,” beads of sweat form on my brow. I’m into a good groove now. The blocks pass – Lakeside, Norwood, and Hastings. Walking is the best.

I cannot pass the Morey Mansion without taking 4-5 photos. In fact, I think it’s a law.

Finally, I reach Terracina, at the top of the hill. The sun is up and provides warmth. I take a jog to the right and head for the Morey Mansion. I’m drawn to its beauty and photogenic qualities.

I take 4-5 snaps and then trudge ahead. Past the Redlands Medical Center and Redlands Community Hospital. A nurse, slipping her cell phone into her purse, exits her car. Her day has just begun.

I’m barely halfway through, but the stroll has already served its purpose. I’ve already exercised, de-stressed, and heard some good tunes. It’s a good day.