A place of memories

Here is the stone bridge in Vaughn Woods, a place where I love to walk. In the spring time Ladyslippers bloom on the hillside beside it. It is a place of many memories. Here my dear friend Rachel was married, and I, her woman of honor, walked barefoot down the trail in a summery batik dress and stood beside this waterfall to witness.
Farther up, the trail rises to a large grassy meadow. Claire, Tina, Yvonne, Barbara and I brought our children there the Sunday of Catie's First Holy Communion to celebrate our greater Holy Communion with joy, with life. We picnicked and the children ran down the hill to the stream to catch frogs while we lay in the sun talking. The children caught a snake in the act of eating a frog, and rescued it, although the ordeal cost the frog the skin on his rear leg.

At the end of Anthony's second grade children and mothers gathered in this meadow to celebrate and thank their wonderful teacher Heidi Long. We flew kites, and I wove head garlands from grass and wild flowers for the children to wear. They ran downhill and played in the stream and we walked with them, took off our shoes, and waded in the cold water.

Early one spring Stephany and I spotted baby eels (elvers) no more than 3" long under the stone bridge. We learned that elvers spawn in the Sargasso Sea migrate up tidal rivers into freshwater.
Many and many a time in all weather Tammy and I have walked these paths, taken off our troubles and put them in the other's hands to be turned over, soothed, wondered at.
It is a healing place.