We have a state park very near me, with a walking trail right by the river. I LOVE to go there and walk when it isn't filled with large groups of loud-mouthed walkers. It's located in a valley, so voices are trapped and echo back and forth between the hills. I always wonder why they can't just STFU and LISTEN to the river current, the sound of the wind in the trees, the birdsong. My absolute worst experience is being near anybody talking on a cellphone. Like - you can't do that somewhere else?
Rant over!
My childhood home was surrounded by woods and my playground was there, by a stream, climbing rock formations, listening to the frogs and seeing millions of fireflies come out at night, damming the stream to make a shallow wading pool for me and the tadpoles. The smells and colors of autumn, and the forest floor full of leaves. I wanna' go back THERE! Just the sounds of nature all around and the imagination to pretend to be an explorer, or adventurer, or damsel from the Dark Ages. I was very fortunate to have those experiences. No playground can compare. I am so sorry more children don't get to experience that.
Nostalgia overcomes me. I hope to be able to walk again by the river, maybe by the Fall.
Nancy
