Returning to the Path

Today is April 28, 2026, about 10:03 a.m. I’m going on my first walk since April 15th—at least, that is the last time I recorded anything. To explain things in short: I had to have my gallbladder removed. It wasn't the standard outpatient procedure; it was a lot worse. It was enlarged, partially necrotic, hundreds of stones. These past two weeks have been challenging, and I’ve gotten through it mostly because my family has been around and supportive. It’s huge.

Near the waterfall and the edge of the river, there were some flowers on the trees that were really hitting right.

Today, I’m trying to do the normal two-and-a-half miles. I probably won’t be at the pace I normally like, but I just need to get my legs under me and build a little confidence and endurance as we get into the warmer months. I didn't bring any gear today—no camera, just me, my phone, my watch, and a mic to record my sights and experiences.

The ABDOMINAL BURN

Coming up on the trail, it looks like they did a controlled burn since the last time I was here. My heart rate is a little higher than it was prior to surgery, but hey, at least the ground isn't saturated in water. You can still smell the burn. The ground is black, and I actually kind of enjoy that smell; it reminds me of camping trips. It’ll be overgrown within a month for sure, and you won’t even notice it was charred to begin with.

My abdomen is still a little tender, making it hard to go downstairs or move quickly, but that’ll improve. I’m trying to keep the nutrition up. I tried a can of tuna the other day and it was really good—I never thought much of canned fish before. I’m going to pick up some canned cod, sardines, and salmon at some point to try. Those kinds of things really are helpful for my health and overall happiness, as it’s a small meal with more benefits than negatives.

“I’m back on the path. That’s the win for today and for the future.”

A cluster of flowers that looked absolutely perfect—no marks, nothing dead.

Archival Instincts

I’ve been drinking dried dandelion tea, following my mom's lead. I think it’ll help my health overall. There are lots of dandelions, too, which is to be expected this time of year. I’ve always loved photographing flowers—it’s actually the first thing I started taking pictures of when I started out. I’ve got a whole archive of them that I’ve even cleaned up for screen savers.

The kind of foreground you want with a majestic background.

Exploring the intricate centers of the spring blooms with the phone.

Dandelions in detail—part of the health routine and the landscape.

The Wrap Up

My heart rate stayed under 120 beats per minute, which is decent. The pace was slower, obviously—I’m feeling that tightness in the belly, and I don't want to jar it by pushing too hard. I just ended the two-and-a-half-mile walk exactly. I checked the data on my phone at the end: my VO2 Max took a hit. It’s annoying, but after two weeks of doing nothing, it was expected.

Overall, it went really well. I’m back on the path. That’s the win for today and for the future.