Awaken

A few days ago, I began a "Minnie's Adventures" post: "My story today is a tale of Spring rebirth, nature in the bud, renewal, a trail from beginning to end, and good friends."

In the post, I carefully placed photo after photo of wildflowers in various stages of blooming, each opening to face their new world after a long session of dormancy or hibernation. Insects and snakes awaken and shed their old skin or molt to reveal a new exoskeleton. Bears and other "winter sleepers" open their eyes, yawn, and stretch as they awaken in their dens. My friend and I walked, snapping photos along the trail with our down jackets tied around our waists.

At this moment of awareness, I feel a close kinship with our wonderful black bears in the Smokies. Although the black bear enters a state of winter sleep, it is not true hibernation. They may awaken, stretch, move around, peek curiously outside at the forest world around them, and even venture out for a walk, only to return to the solitude of their dens. I recall the past two years of "hibernation" that our human species or society, even our world as a civilization, has experienced due to this Pandemic, the feeling of isolation and unconnectedness.

 Sitting on a log with my dog and friend, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, smell the fresh air, and thank God for waking me into a new season, a new beginning. Yes, my " Spring " is my new season of growth yet to unfold, my awakening. It is Spring, rebirth, nature in the bud, renewal, a trail from beginning to end, and good friends.

 It is "OUR" Spring. Awaken. Welcome a new season yet unfolding, rebirth, a new trail, and good friends.

 Dolphin