Walking Into Spring

It is seldom, in the lives of men, when a well deserved walk in the woods is taken as that: A well deserved walk in the woods. Not because we sincerely wanted to. This walk was out of necessity, it felt. The Spring brings this out from within us all. The Spring deserved our appreciation for welcoming us into it's home again. The Spring does that, you see. The Spring necessitates re-birth and shedding of the Winter's dark. It is seldom appreciated as just that in us meager men. We chose instead to walk and walk we did.

Our journey started as a trio in search of water, sheds, connection and wildlife. We spearheaded the journey across, over, and under electric fence. We maneuvered past them artfully under the full gaze of chicken hawk, turkey vulture, and buzzard. These three may have been the same bird. We think they were just out enjoying the air with us.

Our next front was encountered just outside the barbwire and hot wire when we encountered Joker, a horse. Joker had seen us well before during the initial embarkment. It was immediately apparent that Joker wasn't joking around with us. He attempted to accept out good graces, but in the end he was still living in the Winter. Anxious, confined, and unwilling to encounter the Spring travelers. We kept our distance and stepped precariously around the minefield of Joker's Winter meals past. We spied the gate and made subtle haste toward the exit. Joker remained as his winter mindset - cold, oppressive, and harsh. We left him to thaw in peace.

Then came the mighty wounded oak. Even with his boughs broke, his less than majestic stature, foregone in exchange for survival, he was still magnificent. Head slung low and holding on to life and the regrowth of the Spring, we sent him our own healing and took from his what he always gives freely in the Spring. He gives proof positive the Spring has arrived. He was still strong so we felt perfectly well under his unbalanced weight.

The Spring lead us next across logs, through ditches, up and down cattle trails and alongside deerways. We met the stream with welcome arms and the Spring helped expel some of its chill since our last walk in this beautiful area of the woods. The stream pointed us to a great sycamore tree that seemed already reaching for the Summer in its bends. This is where we saw another stream converge with the stream. A great spot for the target that sat stoutly with splattered proofs of the sure-sightedness of hunting men.

The Spring had filled our lungs and legs by then. A sprinkling of rain tempted us a hasty return, but the Spring assured us to rest assured and stay a while longer. We trekked up hill along another deerway and came to a den. The critters within, not unlike Joker, hadn't been out lately and their yard was a mess. We also saw a couple turkey roosts along here and caught our breath around the base of the next mighty oak. He had been lashed once by lightening, but wore the scar proudly. This tree had some real energy and gave it freely and without quarter. He pointed the way back home. He had seen the second party on their way to meet us and told us so later.

We encountered the next two walkers and passed along to them one from our party. They went in search for the secret staired tree while Lenora and I went to see her old sandbox. She had to sit in it again and play for a few happy minutes. The Spring reminded her that her imagination blossomed here from an early age and that was good.
- Jim