with temps in the 90s late in september
this kinder has it right
or perhaps it never left?
—
“i haven’t had the time to plan returning to the scene because I haven’t left it.”
-mick jagger
i parked along a beautiful winding road
walked a few hundred feet
to find this unmarked path
winding its way in switchbacks
all the way up to the top of this park
with natural steps made of roots and branches
and proceeded to climb
in my new shoes
1/2 size larger than the 1st pair that i’d worn out
now a size 6 1/2 instead of a solid 6
it was my first time out in them
and quickly found that
i was not yet used to the extra bit of shoe
suddenly it felt like i was walking in
giant slippery clown shoes or snorkel flippers
it was awkward
i kept kicking things
lots of near misses
almost tripping over things
until i finally really tripped on a large tree root
way up high
and found myself sliding
all the way back down to the bottom of the hill
like a scene from an old spaghetti western
i’m sure i yelled out something
and
stopping again right back where i’d started
near the beautiful road
where a cyclist happened to be riding by
who stopped to see if i was okay
just a bit dusty and surprised really
i stood up once more
and used my giant paddle feet to climb again
this time making it all the way to the top and into the park
none the worse for wear
and i am happy that i was not hiking in the grand canyon.
—
“here at the fountain’s sliding foot, / or at some fruit tree’s mossy root, /
casting the body’s vest aside, / my soul into the boughs does glide.”
-andrew marvell
—
kuebler langford park, ann arbor, mi, usa
a beautiful morning walk
sharing earhart park with this lovely creature
an evening spent at the first and second sister lakes in dolph nature area
“when we begin to see land as a community to which we belong,
we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
– aldo leopold
—
*i’ve now walked 60 of the ann arbor parks,
(all of the way through the letter ‘e’), only 100ish more to go-
i hope to have found and walked all of them by halloween, october 31
as i look forward to the beauty to be found in the change of seasons.
shirley in her camp i.d. picture
have you seen this face?
—
once again
i am reminded
why
i love my community website
with all its sincere and heartfelt
eccentric charm
this time
there’s a notice about a turtle
who has ‘run away’ from camp
i have to wonder
could there be a slower animal
other than maybe a snail
to have made the great escape?
did anyone else know about turtle camp
or have i been living a sheltered life?
do you think she was homesick
or
just didn’t want to take part
in the arts ‘n crafts or talent night?
—
NEWSLETTER QUERY:
R.H. – 1 day ago
if you see this turtle, please phone — (see picture above)
Our turtle Shirley has escaped once again from turtle camp on J. Road, near V. Ave. She should be wearing a piece of blue duct tape on the back of her shell. She’s very friendly. She may have gotten pretty far – last time, she got to near J. Road and R. Road. before she was found.
Please call ——- (land line) if found. Or text ——-. Thank you!
Reward offered.
Probably will have lit out in the exact same direction as before.
RESPONSES:
W. H. – 1 day ago
I hope that neuroscientist didn’t get her for his experiments.
M. H. -1d ago
Oh my goodness we’ll keep our eyes out! (I read this and thought – oh my goodness, another person who sends their turtle to camp?! And then realized it was you!)
UPDATE:
as of today
shirley is still on the lam.
—
“take a walk with a turtle. and behold the world in pause.”
-bruce feiler
and so –
my ann arbor parks walk (150+) has begun
here are the ‘a’s
#1 – Allmendinger Park
old school merry go round, in neighborhood in town, near the stadium, got really lost walking home from there and doubled my walk, picnic spots with grills, volleyball, old trees, basketball, tennis, baseball diamonds, ice skating in winter
– 8 acres

#2 – arbor hills nature area
between neighborhoods, ponds, loud frogs, birds, picnic spots in sweeping expanses under trees, wooded trails, scared a woman when i emerged from the woods who was shocked that i had found it
– 6 acres
#3 – Arbor Oaks
neighborhood park, basketball, open pergolas, open fields, picnic area, pirate themed playground, rain garden, baseball, i was the only person there on the day i visited
-8 acres
#4 – Argo Nature Area
– unpaved trails with beautiful views of the river, livery with canoes/kayak/paddle board rentals, river cascades, long, narrow park, large variety of trees, wildflowers, very quiet in the woods
-22 acres
and onward……many more to follow
—
“i believe that there is a subtle magnetism in nature,
which, if we unconsciously yield to it,
will direct us aright.”
―henry david thoreau