A hot humid day on the flower festooned parcel of wood lot
in the hills of northern Wisconsin.
Adults clamored for shade, ice tea, a cold Budweiser.
Birds and chipmunks snuggled in bushes and high grass
The world was almost asleep.
Almost asleep – but not quite.
The curiosity of a child never sleeps.
The weather is a non entity as life has just begun.
Flowers, bushes, branches are a new adventure of discovery.
Up to her waist and beyond, long stems of yellow greet her eye to eye.
A mutual hello, respect, welcome.
Golden wildflowers to be lovingly fondled for the 1st time – creator’s gifts.
We can detect an audible gasp
Indeed a shriek of glee and amazement.
She reaches out, touches the flower, and they talk to each other.
Intense, passionate, innocent, playful , all in a spontaneous millisecond.
Adults wisely stand by and enjoy this glory repeated generation to generation.
Marveling at the pure joy of their progeny.
Proud of her curiosity, beauty, and intelligence.
“ Look what I found”… The flower is so big.
Exclamations of joy and discovery.
Our memory tapes roll back speeding through the decades.
Attempting to recreate the feelings we had at age 4 or 5.
Each corner turned was a new discovery. A shriek of joy.
We adults are the carriers of culture, customs, knowledge
to the next generation. Generation builds upon the foundation
of those who have gone before.
Sitting on our decks, collectively “solving the world’s problems”,
Retelling family tales of accomplishments and world difficulties,
Somehow that childhood sense of wonderment, amazement,
Innocence, of 1st time events are stored in the closet of knowledge
and experience, and educational expertise.
Solutions found to complex problems – do they bring an ah ha!
A sense of discovery, a return to innocence? Do you feel the guttural
Joy, heart pounding thrill of a 5 year old bounding over fallen trees and
through the waist high savannah grasses .
Confidence recreated, giddy to see more, hear more, touch more?
No cynicism, or over rung analysis ….
Listening to nature and our inner voice – telling us the truth about ourselves
and our limitless capabilities.
Question – What can your children/grandchildren teach you?? Please share your responses.