How many times is it in our Lives that we pass-by, endlessly over and over, an item, or person, or place without fully realizing the significance of what we are ignoring?
Over the past few weeks, as my strength and endurance began to gradually return, Hobbes (my canine son and companion) and I decided to once again wander out on our daily jaunts. Of course, initially our walks were rather short in length…simply slowly meandering up and down our gravel road. But, as we felt stronger, we, one morning in December, decided to venture forth upon our former hike on North Lake Road, starting from our home, and heading towards the Espyville Marina.
A WALK ON THE SWEET SIDE
It was an unusually warm and clear morning, especially since it was only two weeks until Christmas…usually a time for decreasing temperatures, and increasing amounts of white precipitation. As we walked along our way, I began to feel the positive results of my having endured all the physical hardships on my body over the past six months. I ACTUALLY felt GOOD!
Naturally, we took it slowly; but, with each step forward, I felt Joy and Peace enter into me. Hobbes felt it too…and, his excitement with once again being together with me on this Journey became increasingly apparent. Then, suddenly, without warning, something else happened…I began to sing…sing Christmas songs…something I hadn’t done for many years. We laughed…or, at least I did.
As we entered onto the Marina grounds, we made our way down to the Marina’s edge, and parked ourselves (as was our habit) on one of the park benches facing the waters of Pymatuning. Here we sat, absorbing what we had missed for nearly half a year: the Sunshine, the meandering seagulls calling-out to one another as they soared over the boat slips, the endless goings both to and fro of the vehicles traveling across the Pyma Causeway…and, of course we pondered upon where they were headed, and for what reasons.
Finally, Hobbes jumped down from his resting perch upon the tabletop, and with a series of “winded expressions,” reminded me that it was time for us to head homeward. Gathering ourselves together, we headed across the grassy field at the front of the Marina.
Hobbes is ALWAYS even MORE excited at this point in the Journey. Still attaching him to myself via his leash, I permit him to move from my side, and “nose” his way forward.
Naturally, this grassy area holds many memories hidden beneath its surface. Looking closely as one wanders along the field, one can discover the overgrown site of a former well which, through its hand-pump, supplied cool, refreshing water to scores of former visitors. Also, if one is fortunate, the ground outline of the former “changing station” can be discovered. It was within this structure’s wooden walls that countless visitors to the lake changed into their bathing suits…and afterwards, back into their regular clothing.
YEP…LOTS OF MEMORIES
As we slowly wended our way back down North Lake road, and after “mounting” a minimal rise in the roadway, we began to pass on our left, the Pa State lands. Entrance onto these wooded lands is forbidden, however, Hobbes decided to take a break from his forward movements and plant his nose into the culvert along the roadway. Naturally, I heeded his stoppage, allowing him to “nose” to his satisfaction.
During the pause, my eyes were drawn to an object which I must have passed THOUSANDS of times over the years…walking past as a child when the road was little more than a dirt pathway…riding my bicycle along when it became a paved roadway…and driving as a teenager and as an adult.
What caught my attention was, and IS, in fact, what appears as a “pile of fieldstones” seemingly placed together to form a rectangular object roughly 5-6 feet long, and roughly 2, or so, feet in width. Upon examination (without stepping onto state lands), it seemed to me that this was NOT simply a “pile” of stones, but rather the remnants of a structure…held together by the “mortar” placed among them many, many years ago. Its top surface was totally encased with vines. I stood totally enraptured and amazed.
How could I have NEVER noticed this structure previously…especially since it lies only a few feet inwards from the road? Where did it come from? Who constructed it…and, when was it originally built, and why?
A CHIMNEY BASE? A GRAVE? OR…WHAT???
As is my nature, upon returning home, I simply could not erase this roadside “experience” from my mind. Naturally, my Spirit was transported into the domain of possibilities. I wandered among the concepts of Wondering. The structure appeared, at first, as undoubtedly man-made. Was it the foundation of some long-gone homestead? Was it the bottom of a chimney…did its function serve to warm the bodies and souls of a family which formerly occupied the area? Or, in the most extreme situation, was it the centuries old marker of a deceased ancestor, who was now nameless?
HMMM…..
Turning to my computer, I searched long hours for a possible answer to this experience. Perhaps, I found what I was looking for. Appearing on a Crawford County map from 1876 is our area, Espyville. If one follows the obvious roadways, one soon faces the intersection of what is now North/South Shenango roadways bisecting the current PA Rt 285. One can easily mark where the Causeway would be built.
Turning North from this intersection, the land immediately noted to the west of the roadway once belonged to a Family named Armstrong. In addition, the Armstong Family house is sketched onto the map in the exact location of the stone structure I “found.”
SO…decide for yourself what this all means.
For me, I believe that, once again, Eternity somehow ”reached-out” to me during that December Journey. The Sunshine, the seagulls, the waters, grassy fields, and stone structure are eternally woven together into our history, and into our daily Lives.
Thank you, Hobbes, for leading me onto the Path once again…thank you for allowing me to see what I have so often missed in Life.