February 28, 1982 - A Late Night Walk
SECOND SECTION The Amffolh TiMC5
A Late Night Walk
For some reason I wanted to take a walk
tonight. 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!!
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