As I stepped into the woods yesterday I realized, with great disappointment, that I had forgotten my camera. Should I drive back across town to retrieve it? Should I just start walking and see what happens?
The late spring heat wave that had settled in for the weekend and the bumper-to-bumper traffic on the main road were reasons enough to just get to the matter of walking. So I did.
Butterflies and dragonflies seemed suddenly all about, no doubt anticipating summer.
Bullfrogs were singing from the pond, and a turtle or two played hide-and-seek as I passed.
There were telltale signs of wildflowers just past their bloom and the smell of recent rain permeated the trees.
And then, in front of me, a stunning black rat snake was sunning himself in the middle of the path.
I reached for my camera, then remembered it was back at home. So the snake and I just accessed each other for a while and parted ways, he to the safety of underbrush and me to the back half of the trail — up and around the grove of pine trees, across the stream and back to the parking lot.
I found myself remembering that you never really know what’s going to happen in front of you. Whether you come prepared or not, whether you have a plan or just wing it, what comes next comes.
Maybe you get an awesome photo of a beautiful black snake, or maybe you get the bigger picture.
• • •
©2013, Jen Payne
Sometimes the bigger picture is of more value than the photo. Consider yourself enlightened. :-)
Agreed!
Yup, they would have been good pictures! But you describe them so nicely that I can see them in my mind!
It was a nice change of pace to be “just walking.” Still wish I had the snake photo though!
Opportunities come when you least expect them! I’m all for winging it.
I’m such a planner, but every now and then I get in a wing and LOVE it!
I’m with all the commenters. Yes, a photo would have been nice. (But I remember you have a photo of a great big long shiny black snake on here from an earlier post.)
But your description of the encounter is at least as good as a photo. Maybe it’s better. In any event, no photo = total presence. Naked in the woods!
I DID have a couple photos of previous snake encounters. I’m happy I didn’t use them…I think this post ended up taking on a whole new meaning!
Sometimes forgetting the camera is the best thing ever. Your memory snapshots are beautifully written. :-)
Walking without a camera takes a whole different set of muscles!
I hope you will accept the following award below. It is offered in appreciation of all your inspiring works. Please keep inspiring all of us!
Very Inspiring Blogger Award
http://lifeisfullofsweetspots.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
THANK YOU! How fun is that!!