The sound of the wind through the pines

The reason why some people don’t like to go into nature is because they have never connected.

When I was a kid about 10, through my teen years, I went into the woods near my home as often as I could. At the end of my street, a trail going to the next neighborhood began. A footpath usually begins from a clearing, worn by animals; say, rabbits. People go through, and as the trail wears, it becomes a clear path that can be more easily followed. Some people figure this out, and others take it for granted.

I knew all the trails. I knew the shortcuts between the trails. I knew the swamps, the highlands, the clearings, and I could go wherever I wanted, not even using any trails. I could get to several different places where there was water, a good thing to know in the heat of NC. I could get to different waterfalls, and find coon tracks along the river, and streams. I saw birds, frogs, turtles, snakes, lizards, and deer, that some people would have missed the opportunity to see, and I could identify them. Those that I couldn’t, I looked up.

I saw a Great Horned Owl once, flying through thick pines with a 4’ wingspan, like they weren’t even there. I was making way through an area with no trail, about dusk. It lifted off of a tree branch right over my head, and was gone, just like that. It made no sound. It impressed me for life.

I came upon a clearing once after fighting through some thick brush, and there, watching me from the other side of the clearing, was a young spotted White-Tail doe. We looked into each other’s eyes for a moment, and it turned and ran off, as if someone was waiting for it. I sensed it was as curious about me, as I was for it.

I was there to escape troubles in my life, troubles from which there seemed to be no escape. I was there to “change channels”. Once you sit still in the woods, wherever you are, and become truly patient as the animals do; that is to say, as your life depends upon it; you become aware. You are an animal, after all.

If you sit still in the woods, you can see things other people will never see. Animals in their natural habitat can teach you things about yourself you will never learn any other way. From ants, to rare sightings, you begin to learn from yourself. And to deeply appreciate a cool breeze, or the sound of the wind through the pines, and the peace it brings you.

I watched box turtles dig holes, and lay eggs, more than once. I stopped walking just to pay attention to my surroundings at times, and saw: a green snake at my feet I would have missed, a bat sleeping on a pine straw trail, and a hognose snake frozen at my presence. What wonders have I missed, as I walked on by, I will never know.

Now all that is gone, and a trailer park has gone up in it's place. But these days, I have discovered nature in my back yard. There are squirrels and birds, and the occasional lost mud turtle. Sometimes I get to see a bird moth or velvet ant, and I have even seen a Bald Eagle pass by overhead. I am lucky to have such a nice place to relax.

But the fact remains, all some people will ever see, are heat and mosquitoes.