fond

Every morning Maria walks through the small park near her house because she is fond of the quiet and the fresh air . She has been taking the same route for years , greeting the same few people and watching the trees change with the seasons . Even when it rains lightly , she continues her walk unless she is very tired , because the routine helps her feel calm . Sometimes a neighbor joins her and they talk about simple things like work or recipes , which makes the walk more pleasant . On weekends she often sits on the park bench and reads a book , enjoying the slow pace that is rare in the city .