Some Earth Day Thoughts...

Cedar Waxwing 1
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

Today, I thought I'd drop a few excerpts from a journal I'd kept for several years, these excerpts are from 2001 - just some nature observations...



March 2001

Monday, as I arrived at work, a smooth fog laid across the Ohio like a blanket over a just made bed...

The weather’s turned warmer but slightly damper. A fine mist gently moistened me this morning on my ride to work.

The moisture in the air had the effect of drooping the just-budding tree branches with crystal droplets. As the sun attempted to break through the clouds, these graceful crystals glistened like lights on a Christmas tree. It made for an especially beautiful March morn...

It has, in the last day and a half, turned from frigid to fantastic. I’m sitting outside now, as the kids play on the playground at Riverfront Park. My jacket sits beside me and there is a lightly gusty wind which serves to keep the full-blown sun overhead from feeling too warm as it lights upon the back of my neck.

The temperature must be in the 60s and the sky is perfectly blue except for generous streaks of barely-there clouds.

The river appears to have nearly reached the playground. The water has come to rest about 20 feet from the playground’s edge. A goodly collection of driftwood has been deposited along the shore and the river is racing by in front of me.

Beauty and majesty are all about.

On top of the river front’s natural beauty today, I am also blessed by the beauty of humanity that dances, plays, runs and shouts all about.

This park, perhaps more than any other local park, appears to be a great gathering place representing our city. There are children and adults of all ages, races and, I would suppose, economic brackets at play here every time I bring the kids here. It is resplendent with our diversity, all present in peace and joy...

July 2001

Finally, storms came last night, washing the ground albeit briefly, at least in our neighborhood. It’s been threatening rain for a month, now, but we’ve mostly seen only clouds with no rain.

Empty promises.

I took a break from work today for a walk over by the river. The temperature was pleasant in the shade.

The floods earlier this spring grounded a log not too far off shore and there’s always a line of ducks resting on the log. They seem to be a fairly content community.

I noticed one taking to flight today. It was a beautiful thing.

He suddenly sped away from the log, where he’d been resting, beating his wings gracefully, regularly, swooping just inches from the water’s surface as he headed downstream.

For 50 feet, 100 feet, 500 feet he loped easily along just above the water. I kept expecting him to swoosh to a landing but he just kept skating, skimming down the river toward the canal until I lost him in the glint of the setting sun reflecting off the river.

What a life...