Our Other Mother

Photo by Michael Bai on Unsplash

Day 58. Today is day 58 of my living full-time in Opal. I still feel like I need to pinch myself to ensure all this is real - that I’m not dreaming. Opal and I have made the best of partners and today is bliss. After a week of temperatures in the 90s (I’m not complaining - I’d rather sweat than shiver any day), we are sitting in the 70s on one of those gorgeous days where the sun is shining brightly but there is a breeze that makes even standing directly in the sun a near-perfect experience. It’s the first day in a while that I’ve been able to open up the windows and leave the A/C off.

I’ve been reflecting today on how grateful I am that we are where we are. I was told early on when I decided that living in a camper was the way I wanted to go that it was very important to be mindful of where you park. I looked at a few campgrounds before deciding on this one. Honestly, I thought this place wanted too much money. Thankfully, the other ones I looked at were awful. Really awful. Made the decision for me, actually. Turns out, this place is worth every penny. We are tucked into a sort of valley with woods all around and a little creek that runs through. A creek that tries hard to imitate a mighty river when we’ve had a downpour, but mostly it’s calm and peaceful and home to who knows how many creatures.

What a blessed life I’m living. There are wonders everywhere. I haven’t felt this fascinated by my surroundings since I was a child. I wake up to birdsong every day. My view from a large picture window (do people still call them that?) is of a beautiful wood. Most mornings, mist graces the tops of the majestic maple, oak, and fir trees. I can only imagine what it will look like when the air is brisk and the colors of autumn begin to appear.

And there are critters. Not the ones you don’t want to see (mostly). The ones that bring a sense of wonder. I’ve already mentioned the chipmunks that provide regular entertainment. I did see what I think was a skunk two weeks ago when I had Lu out after dark (hence the “mostly”). Thankfully, the thing was several campers down from mine and Lu didn’t see it. That would have been a tragic encounter.

I nearly didn’t notice the little bird in the picture below that had taken refuge between my camper tires. The thing just sat there and stared at me, even as I stood only a foot away. I wondered if it was hurt so I sent the picture to a knowledgeable friend who said it was a fledgling and would likely be fine. It was gone the next morning and no sign of trauma, so I choose to believe she was exactly right.

Every time I leave home and drive in either direction down the curvy, hilly road the campground is on, I see various wildlife: deer, ground hogs, even a rooster that seems to like playing chicken (see what I did there?) with the cars moving down the road. I must admit, I am most in awe of the deer. They are absolutely gorgeous creatures and I make a point to look for them now. Last Thursday evening as I came back home from town, I saw TWELVE of them in one field. I have to be careful that I don’t run off the road, I am so enraptured with them.

So many amazing and beautiful things to behold. All credit goes to our other Mother. Mother Nature. Her power can be frightening, yet her beauty is beyond compare. Her resilience in spite of mankind’s neglect and abuse is remarkable. Her ability to renew the soul is nothing short of miraculous.

I am right where I’m meant to be.

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