A delightful discovery this morning: three new trees planted along my daily walk path.
The sight stopped me in a near-stumble. I jerked my head to the left, staring before snapping this once-in-a-walk image.
Questions pounded my brain walls:
How long have these oak sprouts been here?
What made our tree police suddenly shout “Green!”
Did last week’s U.N. climate change report finally awaken city fathers?
Perhaps you remember the breath-stopping removal of four trees from this same walkway last summer.
A mid-July lightning bolt had zapped one oak tree, splitting it in two. It was a beautiful, natural strike. Destructive natural art remained. Tears followed.
Suburbia struck back in a wood frenzy, removing four trees in response to Mother Nature’s single zap. Where I live, we don’t remove damage. We play Whack A Tree. To ensure nothing stands in weather’s way, we haul in the Big Equipment and ground down the leftovers - all the way down to nuttin’, baby.
In my new man-made walking ground, I sought, and found, a gift: Starfish Bevo. See it/him? A horizontal figure on the right up there. Oak ground bits resembling quinoa. My new morning breakfast?
For weeks, I checked my little tree star every day. Then New Normal became Sidewalk Path. I forgot Loss.
Imagine my glee this morning as I stumbled onto this New New Normal.
Upon looking closer, my smile broadened.
Starfish Quinoa has a buddy. Shade.
Mornings like this urge me outdoors every dawn. Five mile walk, six a‑m start. 2372 walks since April, 2012. Yes, I counted.
I walk daily to remain healthy.
Today reminded me of a second reason: to see. When I opened my eyes — really opened them — I saw new life and second chances.
Right around the corner surrounding a trifecta of trees.
How personal, meaningful can a little daily walk become?
