Fall

Weaverton Cliffs

Moon and Mars

 Fall 2020 is here. We've had a really nice October here in Maryland, with lots of color and mild temperatures, and a handful of nice warm days. Very little wind to speak of. Leaves are at or near peak color and starting to fall off trees as I speak. Crickets are still out at night, but their chorus is diminishing. My tomato plants are at the end of their season, but still producing flowers, and a few still producing tomatoes. The first frost has not yet arrived.

My world has shrunk significantly due to the pandemic. My car sits out front, rarely used. I'm working from home online. I'm living at home with my eldery parents, so I take very few social risks, because I don't want to get sick and bring it home. I feel pretty good all things considered. I get a good 45 minute walk in everyday during my lunch break, mostly around the neighborhood. I dip into the neighborhood woods almost daily, but I don't hike on the trails that often. Maybe I'm being overly cautious, but I don't like the fact that I can barely social distance on the trail when passing people. Most don't wear masks in the woods, although some have adopted a new trail etiquette of masking up before passing. I took one short trip out to the AT with my brother and nephew last month, and we hiked up to Weaverton Cliffs. Again, the steady flow of other hikers on the trail made me uneasy, so I probably won't do that again for a while. Honestly, the approaching winter makes me apprehensive.

So I, along with countless others I'm sure, are trying to find meaning and enjoyment in the little things this social distanced life has to offer at the moment. Even though I long for big wilderness now more than ever, its nice to know there is enjoyment to be found from the neighborhood woods, the short walk, the changing leaves, the sunny day, the mushroom patch, the autumn wildflower bloom, or the rising full moon.