Happy First Day of Spring!

 

The Trilliums have Arrived!

A trillium flower just beginning to bloom. (all photos taken by the author)

Happy First Day of Spring. I spent most of the day outside. I had a feeling the other day when I trekked through the woods that maybe it could happen, and then I thought, no maybe not. Everything else is late this year. I decided to look around anyway today as I entered the woods just in case. Suddenly, I saw one. It hadn’t quite bloomed yet, but there it was. A trillium flower! Oh my gosh. I became very excited because I love Trilliums so much. I think they’re magical. And they always appear to me on the first day of Spring. This is the fourth year in a row that it’s happened. I kid you not!

In honor of the trilliums and the first day of Spring!

Sauntering into the woods

I passed an older lady sitting on the wooden bench, and she said, “Did you see the trillium?” She wore hiking boots and an outfit that reminded me of the people who Volksmarched in West Germany back in the 1980s. She held on to a wooden cane. Her gray hair was wild and frizzy.

“Yes, I did!” I answered. Wow, how did she know I was even looking for them? I hadn’t seen this person before.

“It’s definitely springtime! That’s how I always know it’s spring!”

“Yes, well I’m going up into the woods to see if I can find some more.”

The woman nodded and smiled. “I’ll bet you’ll find some.”

At first, I did not see any trilliums. I saw some other plants growing in front of my favorite tree. I hung out by my tree for a while and looked up the hill at the ferns and the trees. I remembered how when people walk by, they always look up as if there’s something special to see.

As I continued to saunter up the trail looking around for signs of trilliums, I remembered this area where an entire grove of trilliums grew. I could see it from the trail, but to get a good look, I’d have to climb down a small, slippery hill onto a side trail. As soon as I reached that special area, I could see some trilliums from a distance. Of course, I had to get down there to see them, and I made it. As I admired the trilliums, some of which had bloomed already, many just starting, I could hear what sounded like a drill in the distance. I wondered who would be drilling around here in the woods. Then I found out from two women who walked by that it was actually a pileated woodpecker making all that racket. Wow!

I leaned against the Douglas Fir in that small grove that watched over all the trilliums there. I wanted to stay longer, but I needed to get to the store and sign in for work. But now I know that the trilliums have arrived, as usual, on the first day of Spring.

Trilliums!

As I trekked back down the trail, I suddenly noticed a few more trilliums beginning to bloom on the hillside next to the road. I hadn’t noticed them before. Sometimes you just have to look.

Life is good. 

Believe in Magic

Magic is All Around Us.

Around the corner from my house (Photo credit: Me!)

Believe in magic. I saw those words painted on a wooden fence as I wandered by on the neighborhood trail. The trail around the neighborhood feels like a healing trail… to rest your weary bones or, in my case, my weary feet and ankles. The pain in my ankles and feet began a couple of months ago after one of my usual treks through the woods. Excruciating pain from the inside ankle down to the arch area. 

Around the corner from my house (all photos taken by me)

But there’s magic on the trail for sure. The perennial peas glow pink and red and the wild carrot flowers contain thousands of mini flower shapes within each. And the messages written with chalk on a fence were exactly what I needed as I sauntered by. I stood still for a moment or two and reflected, taking it all in. A cool breeze on a sunny day is perfect walking weather.

 

I’m not sure how it happened, but I continued to saunter on the trail slowly and deliberately. As if on a mission, I kept going. I only stopped to check out Amazon Creek. 

Not as much water now, but still some, and a trickle of water moved along. The next thing I knew, I’d made it to my favorite tree! I visited her for a while and then I kept going.

The next thing I knew, I made it to the special bench on the Amazon headwaters Ridgeline trail. I like to say it’s my trail though it belongs to everyone… and that’s a good thing. I was so excited to reach the special bench! It had been over seven weeks since I’d been there. Before then, I’d make it to that bench every day. Now it felt like a major feat. I finally did it again! Yay! I was so happy. And no pain in my feet. Yet.

I sat on the bench for quite a while, taking it all in. Those messages in chalk on the fence inspired me. Or was it that sign that work was going to be done on this trail in August? I’m not sure which.

I could trek back down the trail with just minimal pain in my right ankle. On Tuesday, I finally have my appointment with an orthopedic doctor at Slocum here in Eugene. I hope to get some answers about my feet and ankles or at least to get some tests done. Or something. I hear that once you get in for your first appointment, then things go quickly. It just took forever for me to get this first appointment.

I have faith now that one of these days I’ll be able to walk and hike just as I used to. At least I hope so. That is my wish for my 65th birthday this week.