Close to Home

Dispatch 17

It’s still dark when I walk out the front door and head for the truck, but if I look eastward I can see the day shaking hands with the night.

I’m not going far today, less than 30 miles from home, but I’m really excited.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about Margaret. Some people come into a life for a really brief moment but leave a mark so bright it’s still visible decades later.

Margaret is the reason I walk as much as I do. She only walked five miles a day, but she was about ninety years old when I met her.

There’s another thing about Margaret that’s been tugging on my mind lately. She once told me that she’d traveled around the world collecting bird species but, in the end, what captivated her attention were the birds in her own backyard.

Margaret didn’t tell me that she was considered an authority on the eastern bluebird.

I park the truck at the boat ramp and unload the kayak. It’s a little brighter now but still quite dark. The air is hot and humid. The water lapping at my feet is nearly as warm as bath water. There is a little breeze. Life jacket on, keys secure, and before long, I’m gliding across the lake.

The water this morning is smooth. Just a few ripples play along the lines of my little craft. I paddle as hard as I can for as long as I can.

Maybe I’m thinking about Margaret because I’m not used to having to stay close to home. For me, it’s a season I need to get through. For her, it was a choice. Maybe I’m trying to make sense of it.

As I paddle, the day brightens. The little ripples grow and I can feel the current pulling me back as I push forward. Then, the sun comes over the horizon and I have to stop to admire it.

Sitting still is hard for me. I begin to paddle again, looking all around me. Fish poke the surface of the water. A bird perches on a tree stump to the west. A butterfly passes in front of me and captures my attention. I’m in the middle of the lake. There is nothing for it to land on for a long way.

Margaret spent decades studying her backyard. Maybe I can spend some time in mine.

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