Results: Into the Woods

The road wasn't yellow. It was- and still is- red (and yes, that is an actual picture of the road in present day). But even at the oh-so-mature age of 10, we couldn't resist singing the song from "The Wizard of Oz." And skipping. Until we'd come to the tiny trail that led us into the woods. Have you ever skipped down a brick road?

Each year our Girl Scout troop visited these woods. Fall to look for leaves to add to our collections. Spring to look for the shy and elusive Jack in the Pulpit flower and other early harbingers of the season. Have you ever seen a Jack in the Pulpit?

The best season for spending time in the woods was Summer. Because it was cooler. And we could explore unhindered by adult supervision. We'd head straight to the stream where we could cool our feet and look for tadpoles and minnows. And if we never saw any minnows, that didn't stop us from hopping across the rocks to the far side of the water. That was where we would dig clay from the bank to make doll sized dishes that we'd set in the sun to dry. Have you ever gone wading in a stream on a hot summer day?

If we were feeling adventurous, we would walk through the cement culvert which ended at a large deposit of glacial boulders and a ten or 15 foot drop down to the stream bed. Climbing up and down those wet rocks to play in the little waterfall they created is without a doubt the stupidest act of my childhood- and terrific fun. I've never considered myself a risk taker, but apparently had my moments. Did you ever do something physically risky when you were a kid that you would never do today?

A friend told me not long ago that she would like to visit Paris one more time, that it was the most magical experience of her life. Me. I'd settle for a few hours in my hometown where I could just once more walk down that sun dappled brick road. Duck into the trees and sit on the bank of the stream with wet clay in my hands. To watch the stream flow over ageless boulders. Is there somewhere you would like to visit "just one more time."