“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”
― John Muir
― John Muir
Yesterday the kids had an excess of energy and it was coming out in “Pokemon battles” which were really just an excuse to whack each other under the auspices of play. I had happened upon an article – Friend of the Wilderness: John Muir – and was trying to read it as the noise levels increased.
The quote above was part of the article and I loved the idea of “cares dropping away like Autumn leaves” so I proposed we go walking. They insisted they were quite happy in the family room, ”play fighting” and watching football on television.
Me: ”It’ll be fun. We’ll collect leaves from at least five different species of trees. Here, look, I have a poster of Forest Trees of Wisconsin we can use as a reference.”
The kids: “Uh, no thanks Mom.” (At least I like to think there was a thanks….)
Me, switching off the television: ”If you want to watch the new Pokemon later tonight, you both need to gather five different types of leaves; here’s your bags.” (That sort of bargaining still works at ages seven and four).
So shoes on, clutching recycled grocery bags we headed out. We were all amazed how many different leaves were on the trees and grounds and it didn’t take long to fill our quota. Then the kids started playing a game they love called “leaf catching”. On any autumn day, when the winds blow, a myriad of leaves waft down to the ground. Catching them is harder than it looks as any slight breeze quickly sends them spinning and twisting off into a new direction. Kirk decided if you caught one you got a wish (Kai wished for hotdogs and Sprite). And if you caught two, all your wishes would come true.
Between staring up at the blue, blue sky to watch to incoming leaves, noting birds flying overhead, and racing to catch those twirling targets, we all came inside in better moods. I had big plans to glue the leaves to paper and mounting them on the kids’ walls but life in the form of laundry, homework, and dinner interceded. So the bags of leaves now sit it the garage, but the memory of our leaf catching outing rests quietly in all three of us. And I’m happy to report the kids forgot all about the Pokemon show…. Good wishes! Eileen
