I love to travel. I like to explore new places, hear new languages, eat new foods. I like the way travel can challenge my ideas about things and inspire me with novel beauty. I also love coming home after a trip. Being away helps me see my home in a new light. It helps me appreciate things I may have taken for granted.
Today, Chuck and I were in familiar stomping grounds in the Rocky River Reservation. Now that summer is in full swing, the air is thick with the smells of growing things. Ponds that were full of fresh clear water in the spring are now drying up a bit. The algae is blooming on the surface and the mud at the edges is starting to stink.
It’s harder to spot the birds and animals now that the foliage is so thick. Some of the baby birds we watched in the spring have already grown and left the nest. Others, like the wood ducks, still hover around their mothers, but they are noticeably bigger and stronger than when we saw them last.
As we walked the trails today and checked in on our forest friends, I felt happy to be home. I felt blessed to have these amazing parks at my doorstep. I felt happy to walk with Chuck again. I know she is happy to be back to our routine as well!
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