#SOL16 - 29/31 - The Joy of A Tree

SOLC #29/31 - 

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community for Day Twenty-Nine of Thirty-One of the Slice of Life Challenge in March.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.  
       Wow-two days to go! Congratulations to all who've sliced twenty-nine days!

It's spring break for my granddaughters and they spent all day Monday with me. I'd love to tell you all the fun things we did, and it was a great day, but something happened near the end I'd like to focus on. 

Do you know this book? "In our bones we need the natural curves of hills, the scent of chaparral, the whisper of pines, the possibility of wildness."

— Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods  Louv's website is here.

              In the afternoon, the girls and I decided to go to a nearby park. It is a large open space park with scattered trees, broad walkways, and a nice playground. They took off. I had been there before with Imogene, the four year old, but Ingrid, six, had not experienced it. They loved every bit, and had the whole place to themselves. Here are a few pictures from that time. It was a sunny and airy day, a happy time pretending different things and trying new equipment.

         But it was on our way to the car that a special thing happened. There were two large pines near the car, draping limbs all the way to the ground, but not so low that two little girls couldn't sneak under and IN! There are many trees in my neighborhood, and in different parks, but while we have looked (sometimes) we've never found a tree that would be a good climb for two small girls. 

"It's like we're really in the woods, Grandma."

"Look, I can climb up fast. Can you see me?"

(ME-"Be careful Imi, the boots are not so great for climbing.")

"It's okay, I'm holding on tight. I just have to climb, Grandma. This tree is great."

"Look how high I am!"

"Ingrid, come up here!"

"Oh, we have to come back."

         It was a magical maybe twenty minutes. We will return, with better shoes. And they will climb higher and love it. I hope you know about the need for more children to experience being outside in nature, to feel the magic of whatever they find that they love. Today showed me that power and I don't want any child to miss it.

Ice cream is a good way to end such a day!