ELVIS SINGS HYMNS OF INSPIRATION

Sunday, June 13, 2010

ELVIS SINGS HYMNS OF INSPIRATION

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(JUNE 13, 2010) This beautiful Sunday morning on the Riverwalk, a lady rode by on her bike and spoke. I had talked with this lady a few weeks ago, and she told me that she listened to the hymns and gospel music of Elvis as she biked along the Riverwalk. She has four of his CDs and enjoys the music as she rides past nature.

What exactly did Elvis have to say about nature? Is his music relevant to what I see daily on the Riverwalk? I thought about this this morning and tried to think of Elvis songs as I saw nature doing what nature does.

I saw a mallard couple which made me think of a few songs. The first ones that come to mind are the obvious ones: LOVE ME TENDER and I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU. However, a few months ago I saw a mallard couple sitting on a hillside. Another mallard drake walked by, the female was distracted and went off with that sojourner. Is that HEARTBREAK HOTEL or SUSPICIOUS MINDS?

As we ventured forth toward Angler's Park, Sadie pulled me to the side of the trail.

There was a box turtle with its magnificent black and orange design. Sadie was curious. I kept her back because I feared that the turtle would be ALL SHOOK UP. But, Sadie being the HOUND DOG she is, was impatient and wanted a closer look. I continued to hold her back, and she gave me that DON'T BE CRUEL look. The turtle continued to be TROUBLEd by the invasion into its space, but I assured the turtle THAT'S ALL RIGHT, and we walked on, though Sadie wanted a closer look. I encouraged her to move on by saying "C'mon Baby," in an Elvis accent, and I assured her, "YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE."

At Angler's Park I saw a swallow delivering some food to the young swallows in the house. As the bird flew towards the house, I took pictures.

The dedication of the birds to feed the off-spring shows the mates have a BURNING LOVE, and that they have the innate inward thought that says, "Survival of the species is ALWAYS ON MY MIND."

At Angler's Park my camera battery died, so I couldn't take any more pictures on the return trip. It was a pleasant return, and I stopped thinking about Elvis and just enjoyed the beauty and sounds of nature. If you have gotten this far in the essay, I want to say (in my best Elvis imitation): "Thank ya' Thank ya' very much."

It was another good day on the Riverwalk.

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"DON'T TRADE YOUR DOG FOR AN ELEPHANT"

(JUNE 19, 2010) This morning we saw some lovely sights as we ventured to the Riverwalk at 6:15. The mother mallard and the six babies were out at Dan Daniel Park and the flora and fauna were plentiful. But, one comment made by a regular Riverwalk biker/walker stayed on my mind as we ventured forth. He said, "One bit of advice: Don't trade your dog for an elephant." What was the meaning of that? I pondered that question throughout my walk until I saw a water moccasin swimming close to the shore.

EXPRESSIONS

(JUNE 1, 2010) Often we see expressions in animals that are similar to humans. Sadie sometimes swallows a moth she has been stalking, and the look on her face says, "Sheesh. That didn't taste very good." The picture above shows some interesting expressions on the faces of a goose family. There is the gosling looking up at the adult with respect,, the other goslings looking over the adult goose with an inquiring look, and the adult in the background showing stress. Within this one photograph is captured many emotions.

SHALL WE GATHER

(MAY 25, 2010) People gather each morning to walk or ride bikes together on the Riverwalk. In addition, there are many "gatherings" on the river each morning among the wildlife there. The waterfowl gather to communially dip in the river or fly off together to graze in the rich meadows or just sit on a log in the middle of the river - watching. There is another type of "gathering" that goes on as well. Look closely and watch the swallow and the bluebird and the robin and other songbirds gather nesting for their homes or food for themselves and their off-spring. Look closely and see the insects gathering whatever they need for sustenance - the small bug drinking from the rain water "gathering" on the leaf or the bee gathering nectar from the budding flower. All of this is the age old activity of gathering by the river.

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT

(APRIL 14, 15, 2010) There have been many changes on the Riverwalk over the past two days. The search for the young 5 year old who fell out of the boat near Dan Daniel Dam, the small flowers that were once there are now gone because of the cooler weather, and the river has gone down because of the drier weather. However, amongst these changes there are some constants: the same people we see every morning on our walk are there, the river continues to provide a home for wildlife, and robins can be spotted along the trail.