"The only way to deal with this life meaningfully is to find one's passion, and that means to abandon what does not serve it."
— Friedrich Nietzsche
My back is feeling significantly better thanks to Aleve, Flexeril, lidocaine patches, a back brace, stretches, and more. I'm still not out of the woods, but I was well enough to do some hiking at Pheasant Branch Prairie last weekend. I have no idea what happened—there was no specific injury I can recall. I just woke up one morning barely able to get out of bed. This nightmare overlapped with a bacterial skin infection I had to fight with antibiotics. Anyway, things are a lot better now.
After being cooped up for two weeks, it felt wonderful to stretch my legs again on an unseasonably warm day. There weren't many birds to see, but the fresh air and the chance to put some steps in were invigorating. Among the species I did encounter were Dark-eyed Juncos, plenty of American Tree Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Sandhill Cranes, Red-tailed Hawk, Herring Gulls, and a few first-year White-crowned Sparrows.
Ya gotta love those youngster White-crowneds, right? As I near 60, I find myself contemplating the inevitability of a final visit to the prairie I've cherished and explored for nearly three decades. I'm profoundly grateful to have Pheasant Branch practically in my own backyard—an ever-reliable teacher of the Natural World and its many wonders.
I've included a few photographs of the oak savanna on the drumlin—a landscape that's always inspired me with its quiet beauty. I realize this isn't a long blog post, and truthfully, I didn't have much material to work with this time. I'm not even sure who all my readers are these days, but for those of you who follow along, thank you for your patience with the sparseness. Hopefully, a few nature photos make up for the brevity.
Over recent years, I've distanced myself from many people who've disappointed me, and in hindsight, I realize that many of them weren't truly good friends. There have been others whose actions and words were less than sincere and often lacked depth, and there was a time when harsh words were exchanged over their thoughtlessness. These experiences have shaped my approach to relationships, and now I find myself more comfortable with deliberate isolation. I've come to value my peace more than maintaining connections with people who haven't earned it. Thankfully, I've found a few who share a deeper, more meaningful connection, and they, along with a select few others, make up the circle of people I trust.
Kindred Spirits.
Cool fungus, but I already miss tiger beetles and all the other insects! With the Solstice near and a long winter ahead, I find myself somewhat less inspired to get out there as often as I once did. These days, rather than focusing on quantity, I try to make the most of my outings by savoring their quality. A fungus will do just fine.
All images © 2024 Mike McDowell