Posted By crates on October 1, 2007

        Well it’s happened, I was dimly aware that it had, but it was brought home to me when I saw the bright yellow leaves of a Big-leaf Maple in the dimness of the woods this morning.  Autumn has arrived in the Northwest.  The native trees of this area aren’t that colorful.  As I said the Big-leaf Maples have beautiful yellow leaves, and the Vine-maples, that smallish tree reminiscent of a Japanese Maple, turn a lovely crimson, but the rest of the deciduous trees in the Puget Sound lowlands aren’t that colorful.  Alder trees often turn a slight yellow before falling, but sometimes they simply fall off beginning in the summer and retain their green color.   Most of the color is provided by imported trees from the east: maples of various sorts and the ubiquitous Sweet Gum that they plant everywhere.  But that’s in the towns—out in the country side the gloomy blackish-green of the native conifers prevails, interspersed with the yellow of the maples and alders.

     As I mentioned before, I am trying to walk early in the morning at least five days each week.  I even try to jog a bit, trying to increase the distance gradually.  However, it’s kind of embarassing when I meet somebody else doing their own walk.  I mean it’s hard to say anything as I puff along like a steam engine, barely able to draw enough oxygen into my lungs for survival, much less to waste on speech.  Before I start out each morning, I go through this mental routine trying to convince myself that this agony is really worth it.  I am always on the verge of putting it off.  So far though I have been able to keep to my routine.

     Each day as I go through this process of self-flagellation I monitor my reactions, my aches—all the protests from my body.  Some days I feel strong and push myself, but as is often the case,  I often feel weak and decide to not push it so much.  At least, so far, I am consistent.  Much to my dismay though I have not lost even one pound in just over two weeks.   I make one round in my neighborhood and then head down the road to the beach which is all down hill.  Of course then I have to come back up the hill.

     The weather has been chilly and cloudy almost everyday, often mixed with a light rain.  Although I tend to be cold natured, I only wear a short sleeve t-shirt and shorts.  Oddly enough the only part that gets chilly is the distal end of my radius–the skin in one small spot on my wrist–my left wrist, my right wrist stays relatively warm.  The air is brisk and invigorating, and I enjoy it very much.

     Yesterday it rained all day and let off just as I began my walk this mornng.  I took great delight in the little brook as I walked down to the beach through the forested ravine.

                                                                                                The little stream

                                                                Awakened by the rains

                                                                Speaks to me.

9 pm, October 1, 2007

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