I was honored to be invited to contribute to the Washington City Paper’s “Little Joys” issue, which is a beautiful collection of pieces from an array of people in the D.C. region. It gave me a chance to share what has been bringing me joy during this strange and stressful time of COVID-19 and violence toward Black people. Enjoy!
Escape to Nature
My girl, Karma, taking in the view of the creek.
We’re on the rugged side of the creek, the side that’s unpaved and frequented by deer. My girl, a boxer-pit mix, is lost in her world of smells and sounds I can’t hear, her leash extending ahead of me. Then I pass her as she scrutinizes a particular clump of grass. Above, the birds are noisy, warning each other of some danger in the woods. It’s not me or my girl.
Gray Heron
The fuss is for a hawk that cries out high above the trees. I watch it swoop and disappear behind thick leaves.
Farther up the trail, stock still in the middle of the creek is a gray heron. Too busy sniffing, my girl ignores the bird. I stand motionless, barely breathing as the heron takes a slow step forward, its eye on a fish, perhaps. My girl moves and I look at her for a moment.
When I turn back, the heron is gliding down the waterway, and I marvel at its wingspan. I inhale the cool, early morning air as we wander along, lost in the natural beauty all around. For a time, I’ve escaped the painful and chaotic headlines. For a time, I’m completely free.
