My tree revisited

I was tired of avoiding the cross country trails at Fox Island so I drove out to Bicentennial Woods to revisit my tree. There's always the possibility that I'll go there and not be able to recognize it. The ice and wind this winter have dropped some mammoth trees and even it if was still standing it might not look the same because of all the vulnerable staghorns. But there it stood valiant, unchanged, waiting for me. It was gray but warmer than it's been for a month, for the first time this winter, I hiked without a hat. The only wildlife I saw were three does and a pair of flickers, and they seemed sort of cranky that I was invading their space. I made the whole loop and then drove back to catch J just as he was closing up shop at Hyde's. I love that smile.