Journeying Home

Just as surely as I knew it was time for me to head west, I knew it was time for me to return home, so I am en route, with my usual stopover in North Platte, Nebraska. I am looking forward to the sweet surprises the land reveals, there on my little acreage. The morning I left, about six weeks ago now, as I watched from the kitchen window, two deer walked slowly down the driveway. They paused by the road, then continued on, just out for a leisurely stroll in the fresh snow.

I miss them.

And just a couple of weeks ago, while driving through the San Juan Mountains of New Mexico, I had a nice reminder of the wild turkeys that visit my Minnesota home. As I came off the mountain, rounding a corner in the road, there was a small flock, perhaps seven, strutting across the highway. As usual, a couple were loitering. When I pulled over to take their picture, they skedaddled, following the rest into the cover of nearby woods.  Perhaps these three will be there to greet me on my return.

I look forward to early mornings at my kitchen table, watching the day arrive, walking down by the river, snow crunching under foot, while crows call out from the tree tops. Naturalist John Burroughs said,  "To learn something new, take the path you took yesterday."  There is always something new revealing itself. Our job is to keep our eyes open, our hearts expectant.