Whenever
I look upon this landscape, I am reminded again and again how very
blessed I am to live here. I grew up in Queens, New York and although we
had a backyard, it was probably only 30'x30' at most. We had no trees
surrounding us. Just a few shrubs put in by building contractors. My
father planted Japanese Maple saplings and my mother planted a Kwansan
Cherry seedling several years later. I don't remember seeing squirrels.
The only birds I recall were sparrows and starlings. Of course I was a
child then and didn't pay much attention, but I think I would have
remembered cardinals and bluejays, squirrels and other small animals.
When I think of these creatures, memories of my grandparents' summer
home in Putnam County or my aunt and uncle's home in Suffolk County come
to mind.
Living here for
the past eighteen years has done much good for my psyche. Part of
thirteen acres owned by various family members on my husband's side,
this former dairy farm of 30+ acres still enchants. Not the home in the
country I always dreamed of, it is satisfying nonetheless. I have space
to garden, room for sheds and barns to house the equipment and materials
of our various hobbies, a front and screened back porch in which to sit
and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents. I am content.
