Entry 4: Calling lt Like I See It

So I finally went to my spot by myself. Why myself and other humans always think we need constant companionship even if it's with a dog baffles me. But nevertheless, I went alone. It had been raining all night and the day was still pretty overcast always with the threat of rain. I think fall days like these are kind of nice, it's spooky like Halloween sort of. Walking though "the gates" as I call them, or the start of the trail to my spot, I felt like I was in a movie or something. Walking through this clearing, in my little trench-coat all by myself. There was such a stillness you could feel the stale air just hanging there waiting to cling to your bones. It was frigid.

I wondered what I had to learn today since I had no one here in front of me to "teach" me something new. I would have to do the work myself today. I didn't want to run and be carefree, I didn't feel like getting muddy and ruining my boots. So I started poking around and looking at things, not just looking but observing.

The grass below me feet instead of being dry and sharp, and scratchy was wet and covered in gigantic maple leaves that had started to curl. There was one particular blade of grass that stuck out (okay I know that sounds silly and probably over the top) but there was one that was bigger than all the others and on it were three drops of dew, or rather, rain. It's something you always see in pictures as screen savers for computers or cell phones, but to see it in real life is almost kind of funny because I'm always used to seeing it on a screen. I almost feel silly for talking about it. It's something so simple and obvious, but I guess I just haven't taken so much time to notice lately.

In writing this particular entry, I wish I could be more scientific in my writing like Haskell, but that's just not who I am. Some days you just want to write about the world as you see it.

Entry 3: Choose Your Own Adventure

Today, I had a different guest accompany me to my spot, a different kind of little animal. Today, my 4 year old cousin Genevieve or “Just Genny” as she calls herself wanted to come along with me for my walk and who was I to say no? On our way I thought about what “adventure” she would bring on this particular trip, she’s a funny little girl who is extremely smart and well-spoken for her age. Walking hand in hand before we reached my spot, she asked “So where are we going?” I replied, “You agreed to go on a trip and you didn’t even know where the destination is? You’re a little goofy.” To which she replied as she always does whenever you call her anything except “Genny” or “Princess” “I’m just Genny and I wanted to go with you!” Such exasperation from a four year old. Then she broke free from my hand and started running calling back to me “You can run around here if you want!” One of my favorite things about children is how carefree they are, and how much they enjoy the simple things. So I chased after her through the path until we reached the spot.

I told her this is where we wanted to be and we sat down. When she asked me why I came here, I paused for a minute. The funny thing about children is how naive they can be. I could tell her anything I could tell her the truth and say I visit this place for a school assignment. I could tell her we’re hunting “wabbits”. I could say we’re going on a safari adventure. Most kids I’ve known might believe that, but Genny like I said is pretty smart for her age. So I told her the truth. But then I asked her “Well, why don’t we pretend we’re in the jungle?” And she asked “Can we hunt for lions?!” I replied “Sure.”

She knew we weren’t really in the jungle, but she was willing to pretend. We could choose whatever we wanted there. That's one of of the things about nature I've never really thought about. You can do whatever you want out here (within reason). Sure you can do whatever you want with your life, but we know that. I think sometimes we put nature on a pedestal and think that there are certain restrictions like we're in a museum with glass walls. It's the open. We can "run around here if we want" and yell and scream. Or we can sit and reflect in the quiet. There are only a few restrictions here.