Walking Through Life

I have spent the better part of my life surrounded by trees. As a child the woods were my playground. I climbed them and played beneath them. Perhaps I took their existence for granted.
Upon growing up I moved away to the city. Every time I returned home I was greeted by acres and acres of trees. Trees upon trees flowed the road and blended into the family land. (I only knew the property lines by the bright orange ribbons that hung from the trees.) When I saw the trees I knew I was home. My heart overflowed with warmth. Last October, the land adjoining the family property had started being cleared. When we arrived a large patch of trees were gone. I almost cried.
This past weekend, there were no trees to greet me in the night. The moon lit the land as the trees had been cleared all the way to my parent‘s property line. I was not only close to tears but literally sick to my stomach. (As far as the wild life goes, there are still acres upon acres of woods to accept the birds, deer, bobcats, etc., so I’m sure they’ve moved on without much difficulty.)
As Dirt Man has pointed out to me, my reaction is more than ironic. You see, my father was a logger. The cutting of trees fed me growing up. He cut trees for other people. The beautiful wood he removed was used to build houses and make furniture. My father thinned the woods, leaving younger trees for growth and reseeded the areas. I knew no other life. I understood the responsibly behind his occupation, and I was taught to have a healthy respect for nature.

This photograph was taken in October. It shows the power lines that run from the family property to the adjacent land. As you can see the trees all grow together with no line of demarcation between the properties.

This property houses a soapstone quarry. I realize the grounds were disturbed for this operation many years ago and recovered. I’m sure the land will recover and replenish over time. As of yet, the property owner has not reseeded. I understand it is his land and his right to make a living off his assets. I only hope he does the right thing for the environment.
As far as irony goes, I explained to Dirt Man this time it’s personal. Clear cutting happens all the time all over the world, in the name of progress. I suppose when things affect us on a personal level we become more passionate. This particular parcel was part of my childhood. We ran the topography of our own land and this as well. I realize I have no choice but to accept this as another change in life, and so I will let it go. However, I won’t say it doesn’t hurt my heart. These are my memories…and yes, memories are about all that’s left.

This photo was taken this weekend. I am looking back down on the land where many of the trees of my past used to live.

Living in the Gap

January 10, 2012 – Nature

I took a long walk, cleansing my lungs with each breath I drew. A stream traveled along each side of the path. On the right, the water rushed and roared while on the left it merely hummed with an occasional gurgle. Sunlight filtered through the tall trees, illuminating the ground before me and the woods surrounding me. The rocks nestled in their warm coats of moss, while the fern stood up, necks rising to see the world. The caws of the crows called me to follow them along the trail.