Today’s walk was not encouraged by the
weather. Wild, unpredictable wind
blew the intermittent rain sideways.
I dressed for it, and was quite warm in my waterproof down coat,
ear-band, hat, and hood. Only my
cheeks were cold.
The dogs drew me along, wet ears tucked tightly
when the wind blew the hardest, but I could tell they were enjoying their
outing. Noses were busy, eyes
scanning brightly for any movement.
To my surprise, despite the rain and wind, the
birds continued their spring chatter and calls. The redwings, particularly, and the little finches kept up
the little joyful sounds of spring beneath a grey and glowering sky.
For the brief time in the woods, there was so
little color at first glance.
Because I am anxiously awaiting Green, I had to make an effort to notice
the colors of a rainy, non-seasoned day.
The berry brambles, while leafless still, are a warm and deep red,
almost purple. A few have braved
some tiny, green buds here and there.
The one and only hepatica plant I have ever seen in this woods is
preparing its leaves, though I see no sign of the little purple flower
yet. But it is early.
Among the trees, there are two species still
holding leaves. The small oaks
respond listlessly to the gusts of wind, with last year’s leaves limply the
color of wet beach sand. Sprinkled
throughout the oak woods are the doomed beech saplings, their pale, paper-cream
leaves still graceful and unaware of their certain future as the beech disease
will surely come for them one day soon.
Just at the edge of the woods and swamp, I was
delighted to see the pileated woodpecker with its large, bright, red head and
enormous beak poking suspiciously at me from around a nearby tree trunk. It treated me to two short flights
before disappearing into the wet woods.
It was my first smile of the walk.
As we left the scant protection of the trees, my
eye was caught by two soaring turkey vultures. They wind-surfed the sky, dipping and gliding on the
constant waves of air. I envied
their oblivion to the weather. I
doubt a sunny day affects their mood as it does mine, at least, from what I can
remember of the last, long ago sunny day.
The turkey vultures are just as happy circling the skies on their wide
wings, warm inside their feathers.
It makes no difference to them.
But aside from those few, the rest of the world had
bundled up inside their nests. Not
even the squirrels poked their saucy little noses out to taunt my dogs
today. They were nowhere to be
seen. Nor did the rabbits dart
from their usual hiding places, causing the dogs to lunge as one with me
helplessly dragged in tow.
I can’t say that I would have chosen that walk
today, if it were not for the dogs.
They need it, and I know that I need it. My ghost dog came along, as always, dancing along before me,
jumping into the flooded lands, sniffing about, but always tethered to me by
love and friendship, never needing a leash, then, or now.
Another day, the skies are sure to lighten and the
Green will come. It will be easy
to take myself outside. Color will
be everywhere, and there will be no need for so many layers. I won’t have to strive to see the
beauty as I did on this dismal and silent day. The wind won’t be rushing about and the sky will be
blue.
But, I won’t have the world to myself.
T.
