Some mornings my son and I would drive down Centerville Lane to his preschool. Valley Nursery School was a good place: organized, kind, and empowering for the children.
Some afternoons my son and I would walk the other direction on Centerville Lane. Our house rested on the crest of the hill. As we walking on higher ground, our steps paralleled a ditch of singing frogs, through an open field, nearly touching a small barn home to many rabbits, then down the stretch of road bearing left. When we stepped off the road, we made our way through weeds, to
a tiny creek. Standing there together, I hope that we noticed many things, but what I remember is that we found water striders, those thin, light insects that are equipped to do what we could not imagine an insect would do -- walk on water.
Some of this walk my son and I shared hand in hand and I believe I will always remember these outings because of the tenderness of the excursions, the pointlessness of it all: no job done, task completed, or errand run. Rather, we walked for pleasure.
Who began this short tradition? We only lived in Houghton, New York for two years. How many times did we return? I want to say too few, too few, too few.
That we were wise enough to even once stand and watch the water striders walk for a few moments is really enough. We were mesmerized by their design that made them appear to be magic.
Sometimes I have felt that to do what life requires is equal to walking on water. We don’t really know if we can until we try. Maybe, like the water striders, we will inspire those who have eyes to see.
Photo from Wikipedia.
Some afternoons my son and I would walk the other direction on Centerville Lane. Our house rested on the crest of the hill. As we walking on higher ground, our steps paralleled a ditch of singing frogs, through an open field, nearly touching a small barn home to many rabbits, then down the stretch of road bearing left. When we stepped off the road, we made our way through weeds, to
a tiny creek. Standing there together, I hope that we noticed many things, but what I remember is that we found water striders, those thin, light insects that are equipped to do what we could not imagine an insect would do -- walk on water.
Some of this walk my son and I shared hand in hand and I believe I will always remember these outings because of the tenderness of the excursions, the pointlessness of it all: no job done, task completed, or errand run. Rather, we walked for pleasure.
Who began this short tradition? We only lived in Houghton, New York for two years. How many times did we return? I want to say too few, too few, too few.
That we were wise enough to even once stand and watch the water striders walk for a few moments is really enough. We were mesmerized by their design that made them appear to be magic.
Sometimes I have felt that to do what life requires is equal to walking on water. We don’t really know if we can until we try. Maybe, like the water striders, we will inspire those who have eyes to see.
Photo from Wikipedia.
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