365 days of aRt. DAY FORTY-EIGHT.

i'm facing absence like it's new to me
when really it's the shade that keeps me company

I remember a day about five years ago. It was summer and I was in the bay area of California. I used to love to drive the back roads up in the hills, east of highway one. I was all by myself and spotted a small place to pull off and hike a trail into the woods. I don't think I had ever really hiked alone before, and I was a little timid to do so. I walked between the trees and even took off my shoes to walk barefoot in the dark soil. It was a beautiful winding path up to the top of a hill. The view was AMAZING! I remember how foreign it felt at first to be hiking alone -- to be away from the city and sharing conversation with nature. But that feeling was so superficial. After about the first quarter mile I was in my glory. I was peaceful and overcome by the incredible presence of nature. I no longer felt alone or out of place, I felt a deeper sense of self and a wonderful respect for the companionship that nature provided.