THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND

This  rich speck of the earth is like a Monet in a museum; it’s always beautiful but so much more delightful when it’s shared. I never appreciate the land more than when someone else appreciates it with me. I love it when they get it.

Friend Robert walked the woods reminiscing about his own woods in Pennsylvania. He radiated joy at the first spring beauties, issued dire warnings about getting the greenbriers under control, and found giant puffballs that made him throw back his head and roar. A walk in the woods filled him with energy and by the end of it, he seemed 6 inches taller.

Friend Donna sat gamely in my boat,  a smile stretched over her gritted teeth. Her grandsons filled the boat with little frogs that hopped all over her. Frogs were clinging to her blouse, climbing up her arms. Little boy laughter echoed in the woods.

Friend Pam took a cruise with her granddaughters. (See entry for Feb. 27 for another Pam adventure.)

Nephews John and Anthony are recruited when they visit–––

 ––but some assignments are better than others.

Friends in town have become faint at the sight of a bag full of morels from the spring woods.

Friend Jake fired off rockets that soared over the pond and sent us on a twig-by-twig search of the swamp. We were searching for the nose cone, the one with George Bush's face glued onto it. He built a cow (See entry for Feb.22) and learned the delights and disasters in an animal’s life.

Friend Marcia faithfully and patiently helps identify the parade of birds that tease us with brief glimpses.

Friends and family near and far have endured emails laden with herons one summer, dragonflies the next, and turtles after that. “Oh look, Marvin, Wendy sent us another heron.”

Sometimes you just can’t contain yourself. When that happens, there are friends there to gather up the excess images and stories that spill over when you live in the country.