This morning, in answer to a call from a young mother, I packed up my water bundle and headed out across the street to the recently restored wetlands, the only mixed use conservation area in our county. It was only 9 am and already one of those long days when you have to make a whole bunch of decisions regarding what path to follow, whether to stick to the plan, or if not, which options to follow in pursuit of a day full of meaning, growth, commitment, love, community and wellness. Another of those many days when one walks a precarious path to that distant and elusive goal: balance…
At every turn the questions bubble, push or pull, stay or
leave, come or go… in which cases I tend to throw logic to the wind and do my
best to follow whatever instinct I can muster. So was this day, even at its
earliest point.
So I left the kids in bed, packed up the water bundle, and
headed out on the epic journey across the street. As soon as I arrived, I was
surprised at the park entry fee, which is only collected on holidays and
weekends, and of course I’d forgotten that today is in fact the beginning of a
long weekend. So I doled out my buck
fifty, and proceeded to find a spot in the nearly empty human half of the
conservation park area.
It was a minimalist type of bundle – water, water vessel,
cloth, a bit of Cuban cigar tobacco, and that’s about it. I did grow some
tobacco this summer, but it was so hot, my plants all got baked before they
bore any flowers! I’ll plant again now that #FloridaWinter’s arrived and it’s a
bit cooler…
As I troddled down the paved sidewalk that links the park entry way with the wetland trail for humans, I was met immediately by an incredibly beautiful mature bald eagle swooping around just above the over water bridge trail. What a welcome greeting! I somewhat sheepishly did my best to capture the moment on cell video and then put away the phone and enjoyed the swoops and circles the eagle made before heading out to the north.
Pleased that my intentions seem to have already been
received, I continued down the path until I reached the westernmost edge of the
eastern lagoon. Such a gorgeous mix of native water plants, grasses, sedges,
trees and wildflowers! Terry the ranger says that this waterway running alongside
the Florida Turnpike was once part of the canoe trail into the everglades. I love the way that this field has been
converted – restored to its original topography – a wetland, lagoon, pineland
and live oak hammock.
— Tara Chadwick (@wabigun) January 1, 2017
After making my offerings of tobacco and songs, I spent a
moment wishing my boys were by my side rather than still tucked into bed, so,
in honor of the little one’s “thunderbird boy” creation earlier this month, I
left a “thunderbird woman” on the snow white sand for all to see, until the
next rain drops dance by to scoop her up for a whirl.
As I snapped the last documentary pics, and wrapped up my
bundle to head back for my big babies, I was met by another incredible
surprise, the eagle was back, this time, circling over the east side of the
park, which is also the area where we live. This time, I felt like a happy
little human, skipping along, playing with the eagle, opening my wings and
pretending to fly.
I am so grateful for the work of all who are intentionally
and strategically building our communities, by sharing our histories, our
personal journeys, our goals, our triumphs. It is truly an honor to witness and
participate in putting together a path that will serve as a road, a guide, a
map for ourselves, our neighbors and our children in the inevitable times of both tragedy and
triumph that await just beyond the horizon…
For all those who celebrate this day as their New Year –
happy 2017 – and for absolutely everyone – let’s build!
