Flat Stacey In Nature: The Story Of Us
“Good morning Flat Stacey, time to go!”
“But…it’s early and it is Saturday. Why?”
“You will see,” I said as I walked downstairs to prepare
myself some coffee while I waited for Flat Stacey to peel open her flat eyes.
I have a special procedure for Saturday mornings when the
weather allows. Across the street from our house sits the town park. Behind the
park is the Womelsdorf VFW. After some coffee, I like to grab my camera and go
for a walk. At that hour everything is very quiet. During the warmer months all
of nature is alive and ramped up, even at that hour. Nature likes to get
started at first light. If I’m awake, it’s fun for me to join the parade. There
are birds all over the place, and the squirrels run rampant. About a year ago,
we had some special visitors who flew in. They are ducks and they told me they
like the place so much that they planned on staying. (So far, they have held
true to their word. They are still in attendance and considered permanent
tenants.) Below is a picture of our park. A stream surrounded by stone walls
runs right down the middle of it. Doesn’t it look beautiful?
Flat Stacey finally came bouncing down the stairs. I picked
her up and put her in my pocket to keep her safe while we crossed the street.
As soon as my first foot hit the grass in the park, we noticed the squirrels.
One was nice enough to pose on a park bench for a picture:
As we made our way deeper into the park we found the ducks
waiting for us. Usually they hang out at the waters of the neighboring VFW, but
I guess they sensed I was showing up with a special visitor today. That was
very nice of them! Flat Stacey really liked the ducks. I think they liked her
too.
Next, we crossed over the stream on one of three bridges that
are in the park and arrived at the playground.
Flat Stacey was now fully awake and couldn’t wait for some playtime. She
liked the slide most of all. I think that was because it was the only thing
that worked for a flat girl. After all- you and I usually slide down slides
while flat on our backs! (I sure hope that Flat Stacey never tries riding a
motorcycle by sitting on the front. I explained to her that it’s not a safe
thing to do. I also told her to find a flat helmet if she ever does ride one.)
Click the picture, it gets bigger!
Next we walked in the direction of the VFW. We stopped at
the waterfalls that separate the two sections of land. There is a metal fence
that divides the two slices of earth. (The Womelsdorf VFW is private property,
so not everyone is supposed to be strolling around. I am allowed to walk around
there because I am a member and have permission). Flat Stacey wanted her
picture on the metal fence. That made me nervous. It was windy. What would
happen if she got blown into the water? She told me that she would simply try
to land on her back and float until I could save her. Luckily that didn’t
happen. She held a firm grip. I really didn’t want to get wet. The water (and
the air) was still very cool for that kind of adventure!
I like the backyard of the VFW because, well- it’s just so
beautiful. There are two islands that sit in the middle of the water. They are
connected by bridges. One of them got ruined in a flood a few months ago.
Another appears damaged because of it. There is another waterfall at one side
and all of the water empties into the stream of the park. In the summer there
are beautiful wildflowers all over. A few minutes spent in a quiet morning here
can make you feel like you’re on vacation.
Flat Stacey was surprised to see the ducks had joined us at
the VFW. I guess they really liked her. Here are our feathered friends enjoying
the waterfall and water:
We hung around a bit, soaking in the beauty of everything.
It has been a long winter and it was very nice to be there. Eventually we
started the journey home. There was a lot more to do and the day was only just
beginning. Our path took us back through
the park where we were met by the ducks once again.
One of the ducks quacked, “Hello Flat Stacey. It has been
nice to meet you. Would you like us to perform a show for you before you go?”
Flat Stacey giggled and answered, “Sure!” I was hoping that is what she said. I
wanted to see a show too! They hopped in the stream and did a little dance for
us!
After the show, we said goodbye to our billed friends with
hopes of finishing the trek home. Just then there was a noise in the sky. Flat
Stacey and I looked up. She asked me what they were and where they were going.
I replied, “They are Snow Geese. I know where they are going, but that is a
surprise for later.” Flat Stacey rolled her eyes around her flat head. “Why
does everything have to be a surprise” she asked. “Because it’s more fun that
way,” I answered.
A few hours and a short nap later, my friend Chris arrived
at our house. He was coming to celebrate my son’s 21st birthday.
Before we cut the cake, lit candles and sung a song, there was another outdoor
adventure to attend to. There is a magical place about fifteen minutes from our
house. It is called “Middle Creek Wildlife Area.” There is a lake situated on
about 1,800 acres of land. Every year Snow Geese, along with Tundra Swans,
Canadian Geese and probably a few other brands of wild birds make a stop at Middle Creek as part of their
migration journey. Their numbers peak around mid-March and are often counted in
the tens of thousands. We piled in the car and made the short drive to check it
out. Below is my friend Chris standing with my kids and Flat Stacey:
According to the park rangers, there were about 60,000 Snow
Geese hanging around on the day of our visit. They were amazing to watch.
The birds were very loud, in a good way. Every so often a
whole bunch of them would take to the air. While the lake was filled with
birds, the land was packed with humans. People fly in from other countries to
witness this spectacle. I am happy and feel blessed it is so close to my house.
Can you count all the birds in the picture below?
We stayed awhile before heading back home. It was a long day
and it wore Flat Stacey out. After the birthday celebration was over, it was
her bedtime. As I tucked her into bed, she asked, “Jason, why do you like
nature so much?”
“Well, the easy answer is I like the quiet, the beauty. But
there is a bigger purpose.”
“What is it?”
“You have been on the road with me for a few weeks now. You
know what it can be like out in the working world. Everybody is rushing around,
caught up in their own life. On the highway, it often becomes car vs. car, car
vs. truck and even truck vs. truck. Spending time in nature helps to soften the
‘V’.”
“Soften the ‘V?’ what
does that mean?” I like when Flat Stacey asks the good questions.
“Being outdoors softens the V. It turns it into a U. When
that happens, ‘Vs.’ becomes ‘Us.’ Some
folks forget that we live in a beautiful world. It was created for ‘us.’ We are
all in it together. Nature is a great teacher. Remember those ducks and the
squirrels at the park? They got along perfectly together. They don’t know any
other way because that’s the way the world was truly meant to work. Same thing
with the Canadian Geese and the Snow Geese at Middle Creek- they live in
harmony. Some people get stuck in the ‘Vs.’ mindset. They are sometimes
unhappy, mean and otherwise don’t fully enjoy life. I don’t want to become like
that. Spending time in nature helps me to remember it’s all about ‘us.’ Does
that make sense?”
Apparently, it did make sense to her. She smiled, nodded her
flat head as if to say, “yes” and rolled over fast asleep. I’m glad it was a
quick bedtime conversation. There are too many people vs. people examples I
could have given her. Black vs. white, world government vs. world government,
the list goes on and on. I can step out of the arguments when I’m in nature, and
remember we should think that we are all in the journey of life together. Life
is about you and me, working together for the greater good. I could explain
this more, but I have to go to bed myself. Tomorrow is Sunday. In a few short
hours I will be saying, “Good morning Flat Stacey, time to go!”
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