4-26-12

The Dogs did it to me again…………..

I was feeling guilty - I’d been in the house almost all day working on one thing or another and the pups had been patiently hanging out in their usual spots - I was also stiff from sitting most of the afternoon (it was sermon writing day) - and so I figured a walk around the pond was in order. As soon as the shoes and jacket are on Rocky knows what’s up - and he is at the door spinning like a whirling dervish knowing (or at least assuming) that we will go O.U. T. for a W.A.L. K.

The air was cool and crisp but the sun was warm and the 2 sweatshirts were a bit much - but oh well. I got as far as the open garage door - and there sitting patiently, (or maybe in fear, I don‘t know) was a toad - the first I’d seen this season. I’m sure that if I hadn’t opened the garage door, the unfortunate being would croak - no pun intended…

So I gently persuaded him/her to move to the grass and on to safety. Walks with the dogs always require sticks and so they get picked up as I go along - Rocky drooling over the prospect of catching yet one more…Vespa, however, has her nose firmly and deeply in the grass as she walks, more concerned with what is infiltrating her Kingdom than sophmoric things like catching sticks….

We walk up over the dam of the pond startling the wood ducks that are quietly minding their own business - but I know they’ll be back. A lot has happened around the edge of the pond since the walk yesterday and Vespa is making sure she gets all the mail, and then leaves some of her own. This is her turf doncha ya know…

As we walk I notice that some of the flowers are already past their prime and (of course this is only April) some have not even begun to think about budding out. The day lilies are not yet ready - but what a show when they are! The weeping willow tree is enormous after 16 years of being rooted so close to water, branches elegantly sweeping the ground, a perfect place to sit and watch the world go by - either in it’s lap at ground level, or in it’s majestic arms. Even in my dotage I can still climb this one……….and I do (but not today). Geese have nested here in the past and the raccoons and muskrats have left their marks here as well… and of course Vespa knows all this. But today nothing to get worked up over.

A short game of catch the stick - with Rocky it is dance - sky - catch and he does it well, it’s his favorite game… we‘re on the peninsula (the pond is U shaped) with plenty of room to roam for both of them - and I can let Vespa off the lead.. no nut trees here for the squirrels to hide in, or for her to chase to her physical detriment.

As we come around to the street side of the pond I notice that the 2 trees that guard the overflow are dead… and need to be cut down - one more thing on the to-do list. But there are spring woodland wildflowers growing here - planted by You-Know-Who. A rare treat indeed. A slow walk up the lane now, we’re almost back to the house - and what do I see in the lane but a dead toad, apparently squished by a car… not too far from the chipmunk den in the lane.. S/he is a brave one that monkeychips…

As I get closer to the house I walk around the flower beds that in my youthful exuberance I planted years ago… They pretty much take care of themselves now - hyssop, gladiolas, woodland sunflowers, spiderwort, Ohio and otherwise, columbine, poppy, peony and hosta and daylilies and who knows what else… Oh yeah, the hickory tress that ‘plant themselves’….where they don’t belong?? (says who?, but that‘s another pondering…..)

Toads dead on the ground, trees no longer vibrant, broken branches from the last wind storm strewn about like so many pick-up sticks, flowers spent of their very life, the carpet of pine needles under the wall of evergreens on the west side of the pond, pine cones fallen, burping up their precious seeds…death………..

Woodland flowers with brilliant Crayola colors, hidden in plain view, the stately weeping willow dancing in the breeze, toads hopping to who knows where, ducks making a mad dash to safety, geese, when they are there, squawking their adversaries away, life………… and it is good.

Life is birthed from death - we know that somehow in our innermost being - we know that.………But it is always a surprise and revelation when it is in plain sight in front of us - in front of me that is….

Isn’t that what Resurrection is all about?

Happy, glorious, wonderful, magnificent, earthy and death defying Easter Season my friends…………