The Smaller Tree

Unforced Movement
Moving without trying to improve anything.

I went to walk today before the rain or snow mix was supposed to come in.

As I first went over the hill to start my walk, I was hoping to do my regular first trail head to second trail head.

But as I looked across the road, I could see many bikes lined up riding on the trail.

I don’t like to walk or hike with bikes. I still consider myself more of a bike rider than a walker, but this just bothers me.

I always wonder, why not bike on a bike roadway or sidewalk?

So in some sort of act of defiance, I decided to walk on the bike sidewalk path instead.

Although no one probably cared, I felt like I made a point.

There were also bikes on the sidewalk and one other walker, but I kept going on the rebellious bike sidewalk anyway.

The first thing I noticed was how quickly the weather kept changing temperature on my skin.

At some points it was cool with a breeze. At others, when the clouds moved, it felt very warm.

It reminded me of swimming in a public pool. The water is cool and then all of a sudden a warm spot.

In a pool, that is cause for alarm and disgust. Here on the walk, it felt good.

I looped around and took a sidewalk behind a complex I hadn’t taken before. No one was on this one.

As I walked, I noticed pine trees all in a line, like soldiers at attention. They all looked pretty much the same.

Then I got to a giant one. Tall, full of green needles, thick and strong looking.

Right next to it was a much smaller tree. It had some green needles, but the trunk itself was bent over and curved.

It reminded me of people. Gravity takes its toll. Bends our backs over and shrinks up our spine.

This pine tree was that.

Somehow though, the mighty one next to it seemed to respect the smaller tree.

I thought that was right.

I headed home.

No bikes. No other walkers.

I got the mail and went home.