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October 11, 2004 - Columbus Day - Reed-Turner Woods, Long Grove, IL
We walked, hand in hand, down the trails strewn with fallen leaves, making a soft sound that was matched by the small creatures gathering for winter. The air sighed gently through the tree branches, trying to encourage the leaves to make the short trip to the ground.
When we stopped at the lake, I looked into her eyes, seeing autumn's reflections and the look of content in the beautiful blue of her gaze. I knew then that, if only for these few moments, I made her happy. We sat at some log benches and gazed across the lake. It was quiet and peaceful, with water lapping at the shore, a mated pair of swans floating gracefully across the water, stopping occasionally to dip for a tasty morsel.
Sitting there, we could hear the music of the woods, like a siren, calling to us, "Take the time. Enjoy! Savor our beauty!". Indeed, it was that. The placid scene unfolded before us as no place from our normal travels could. Peace and serenity poured into us from everywhere. We nestled into each other's arms, finding a cozy nook from which we could enjoy our tranquil perspective. Although we were only a small distance from the bustle of humanity, the rest of our world melted away, leaving only us, the small animals, and our surroundings. It was enough for us. For a time, our thoughts did not expand beyond what we could see. Eventually, the swans noticed our presence and curious, they approached cautiously. Maintaining a safe distance, they inspected us and finding us more or less like them, they paid us no mind and went about their business, searching for their dinner.
As we returned to our car, we knew that, although the moment was brief, it was a memory to cherish forever.
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I
took my love for a walk on this fine autumn evening. It was pleasantly cool and
the scent of autumn hung on the air with a musk that made us feel closer to the
earth and to each other. The sky was a blue that is not usually found here, and
there were wispy clouds gathering that set off the radiance of the sun through
the turning leaves.
After
some time, we knew it was time to return. Would that we could spend more idyllic
moments together. Our responsibilities called to us from across the wood,
telling us that they needed us, too.
