HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 28, 1982 - A Late Night Walktonight. Not a long one, but one that would
clear my head of the busy week just past.
Perhaps I thought it might be a sort of
therapy before bedtime. Of course, the
rustling of my coat immediately had my
dog, Hick, up on his feet. Tail wagging, he
was ready to go.
Outside the air was still and cold. The
night before had dusted the land with a
snowy frosting of white that had not quite
evaporated through the day. Here and
there the brown leaves in the woods showed
through and icicles hanging from the eaves
told me that melting had taken place during
the day and soon all would be gone.
I wandered out past the horse stable
which was empty. Our horses never seem to
have taken to being inside. Down in the
pasture they stood statue -like sleeping, a
dark silhouette against the snow.
The moon had shone in all its splendor a
few nights before but now was blurred in a
milky haze. Only a few of the brightest stars
were able to shine through the hazy mantle
taking most of the glitter from above. As a
matter of fact, the moon had passed its
fullness and now seemed slightly squashed
on top. Its day had passed and from now on
we'd be seeing less and less of it.
The trees in the back woods stood out like
giant disgruntled skeletons. Yet they, too,
wanted to be noticed. Along the old split rail
fence I went, rubbing my gloved hands over
the crumbling snow that had frozen from its
half -melt of late afternoon. Out on the
pasture the nibbled clean surface looked
smooth and white before me. A lone dog
barked way off to the north. Had he heard
me walking on the crunchy snow? Or was
the hazy moon his object of concern?
Dog On His Own
Outside a few lights from our neighbors,
and the lonely dog barking, I was alone. My
dog had deserted me for the fresh scent of a
rabbit that had disappeared unseen before
me.
Being by myself on a cold and still
night with a not - too - friendly moon did
something to me. It made me think and re-
examine myself. Perhaps this is what I had
come out here for ... a cleansing of the body
and spirit. I breathed deeply and gave a
slight
shiver as the cold crept in. For
some reason I was starting to feel better
now. The world didn't seem to appear
in such distress. I wondered if I was imagining
all this or was I truly able to revitalize
myself by just a short walk. Perhaps
that is why I unconsciously enjoy being
outside. Whether it is in the woods, on the
beach or strolling along a farm road, if I am
outside, the world seems to be a better place.
By
now I had passed my beehives that sat motionless
in line among the all white. Inside
was a swarm of living bees, warm, well
fed and busily attending to their winter chores
in confinement. I had purposely left them
a good supply of honey to tide them over
during the cold, dark winter months. They
were doing well, for outside the entrance
were scores of expired workers, bees
that had given their all to the maintenance
of the hive. Further proof were
the cleanings left on the sills outside the
entrance of the hive that had been moved
there when the temperature had warmed
enough to make them move. Insects
Sleep Below All
over the land insects lie in wait -- resting
and preparing for their glory day come
spring. The curse of the potato farmer,
the Colorado potato beetle, probably
lies buried beneath my feet as I walk.
In suspended anticipation it awaits the
thaw of the land along with a hundred thousand
other known and unknown living things
that makeup the world as we know it. Of
the hundred thousand, living things only
a few are known to most of us. The earthworm,
the ant, the bug or worm that eats
our roses, or perhaps a butterfly or two and
that's about all. Maybe, that's the way it CHAROS
CUSTOM SOUND
d
f _f r 1
EASTERN L.1.'s LARGEST AUDIO VIDEO SPL:CIALISTS WINTER
CLEARANCE SALE 50
MAJOR BRANDS - AUDIO, VIDEO, T.V., ACCESSORIES 28
Cameron Street WHY DRIVE WEST? Winter Store Hours Southampton,
N.Y. January 1 - March 31 283 -
4428 Tues. - Sat. 9 - 6 P.M. FEBRUARY
18,1982 BEE
HIVES -- Inside each hive is a moving mass of bees, continually changing places
to keep warm. A good supply of last year's honey is necessary for their survival.
Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh should
be. There are just too many for all to know.
Yet
if we knew the workings of these hidden
masses, perhaps we'd start to appreciate
what they do for us. Each has its place.
Each has its job to do. Each has done its
part in the past to help make the world we
know today. Without
insects there could be no world. The
problem is we often forget the good insects
because there are others that annoy us
in one way or another. St
Iti All
these thoughts whirled through my head
as I walked on the frozen land that stretched
out before me. The moon hadn't changed.
It was still quiet and it was still cold.
The world was just the way I left it. I had
been revived and felt good. Now sleep would
come easily. I, too, will dream of a day
when the green grass will be beneath my
feet and the sweet smell of clover will drift
across the land. Then the earth will again
become more a part of me and it will be
spring. PAULSTOUTENBURGH
133 -
135 Third Street, Greenport 477 -1794 Our
kitchen is open at 11:00 AM closing
everyday!! LUNCH
Humemade
Quiches • Reubens Hot
Hearty Soups Daily
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Hour NEW
TIME! 4 -6PM two
fors order
any drink and get two
for the price of one HOT
DOGS 2,50 DI:
1NER Specials Posted
Served
from 5:00 on... Daily THIS
WEEK Ocean
Blowfish $795 Firemen -
Watch the Parade from
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BEER THIS YEAR For
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477 -
0666 Q Ytstarnet
GREENPORT, NEW YORK Start
the Weekend with HOT &
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Afternoon Every
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12 - 3 SUNDAY
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