Chondrosarcoma – ah shit, bob's sick

Seemed so quiet around the house today. It’s been a long time since I’ve spent any time alone at home. Sher has gone South to see relatives for a few days and Alberic has headed off to Summer Camp for a week. So it’s me, two cats, and a dog for the next few days! You heard right … I’m fending for myself and doing damn well at it too .

So what did I do with all this time on my hands? Well, today’s weather was just the perfect Vermont summer day. There’s a wonderful breeze, about seventy-five to eighty degrees and just simply lovely. What a day to be alive! I decided I’d take a short walk through our woods and check things out.

I haven’t walked our property very much this past year and with no one around I could take my time, move at my own pace, and rest whenever I wanted to. Not that others rush me, but I always feel obliged to try and keep up with others and not slow the pace too much.
For those that walk through the woods now and then, you know the forest and streams are always changing. They grow and the stream change shape with new twists and turns. New trees and plants pop up, and you can usually see the tracks of deer and moose and others that pass through in search of food, water and refuge.

I love walking the forest and the peace of mind that comes from spending time there. I mean just think about the word forest … “for-rest” … need I say more? I always feel like I can think clearer after a walk, I’m more in touch with myself, my emotions, and it always increases creative thought. After walking through the woods I always want to spend the rest of my day writing, painting or playing music. For me, it’s the biggest “turn on” when it comes to creativity and keeping that edge sharp.

Today I took my camera and walked the trails I’ve cut and maintained over the years. The ponds and streams were full of fish, frogs and others, splashing as I walked by as if to say “come join us”. One section of the trail follows the stream a distance and it was simply incredible to see all the life in the water. That’s one of the great things about having ponds and stream to walk … everything in the forest comes for water, so it’s always lively. I crossed a deer run and saw those fresh little “rasinettes” as evidence that they’d recently traveled through on their way to drink.

I stopped to rest under a large old tree that’s been there long before I ever discovered this place. I sat on the ground resting my back against it’s trunk listening to the birds and other noises that always fill the forest up. It was so peaceful I almost fell asleep … well, not asleep, but more like a daydream.

All these thoughts were going through my mind about how much the forest changed since the last time I’d traveled through, and the cycle of nature always renewing itself. Dying and being reborn, how the leaves drop from the trees each year and others return to take their place, how the wild flowers drop their seeds for the next generation, and how everything is intertwined and dependant on each other for survival.

I also thought about how I (and all people in general), fit into this scheme of natures renewal and found myself in a deep state of peacefulness that I haven’t felt or been in touch with for a long time. You know, I stopped and “smelt the roses” you might say. A wonderful experience to say the least.

As I stood up to start making my way back to the house, I walked about five steps away from the tree and turned back around to looked at it. I took a photo of it, my intent had been to take many photos today, but somehow this was the only one I came home with. Below is the photo I took. Click on it and you’ll see a larger version.

I had forgotten that almost ten years ago Sher, I and Alberic had hung masks and some other objects on many of the trees throughout our property. Alby always considered them magic trees, maybe trees that the Ewoks (from Star Wars) lived in. Today, after ten years, these tree hangings paid off in a big way for me. I hope you enjoyed this tale as much as I enjoyed the experience. It made me realize … that I really never was alone after-all.