A Glimpse of Mom

It was Wednesday, the day of the week for her Pond Loop walk. Even though it was late spring, the weather was unseasonably cool. The temperature and the overcast convinced her to wear her fleece jacket. She had with her a small belly pack that she could use as a combination purse and knapsack. In one of her coat pockets was her hand lens, and in the other was her small digital camera. Her driver’s license, keys, notebook and pen, small plastic bags for samples collected, and binoculars were ready in her belly pack. As she got into the car she checked to make sure her stack of reference books on insects and plants were still in the backseat. She had recently included some reference material from the internet on bivalves and echinoderms and a pamphlet with an updated plant list of the area that she had requested from the Park Service Naturalist. She looked forward to the walk with pleasurable anticipation. She had been walking this Loop with regularity for years now, noting the comings and goings of the migrant waterfowl and the seasonal changes of the plants, among other things. Close and detailed observation made each thing she focused on a familiar acquaintance. Although sometimes she felt disappointed that she had come to the study of nature late, she didn’t let that diminish the appreciation of uncovering her interest and love for it now. She experienced such a wonder-full sense of gratitude just seeing what new things there were for her to discover. With so much to see, contemplate, and puzzle over, sometimes this mile-long trail took her two hours to cover. She might collect samples of insect larva, feathers, or some plant part to take home and ponder and name. Naming was a particular joy for her. Once named she felt she had a lasting intimacy with the object.