Hope

  With the direction that most of the world seems to be heading, it is becoming more and more a relief to keep to the solitude found on the Bayou.  I can meander about the hillside in relative safety and, more oft than not, find a small bit of happiness along the way.  That joy might be in the form of a nest of baby rabbits, the sighting of the red fox as it slips behind the canebrake or even a tiny flower that has managed to take root and flourish in some tiny nook not meant as a garden.  I suppose it is all in the way you look at things and if you go out looking for despair, you will most likely find it.  On the other hand, go out looking for beauty and you are bound to not be disappointed.  Yep, sometimes it takes a bit of searching but it is there.  Mother Nature does not tend to leave things in disrepair for long. 

  Ms. Ez, the old Bayou Dog, and I hiked about a bit early this morning. There was still a bit of greyness lingering on the horizon but the day promised to be delightful.  I let the dog roam free this time as I was not in search of any elusive critter.  I was more out just to gather my sanity after being cooped up inside the Little Bayou House.  As she galloped ahead of me, I thought how delightful it must be to have not a care in the world.  She was a happy camper.  This is one time that the dog actually led the way and was not required to follow at my heels.  I do think she felt an air of importance with her freedom.  She headed down to the marsh edge under the old oak tree so I dutifully followed.  It was almost as if she was leading me somewhere and I felt it only proper to follow.  Once under the tree, Ms. Ez started sniffing the reeds as if to say "These are highly interesting!  You should take a look!"  So, I listened to her and proceeded to inspect the reeds.  "Alrighty then. These are just normal marsh plants, my friend," I told her.  Then I looked again.  Yep, normal marsh plants but in a way, not so normal. The plants were full of seeds.  They were full of hope for a new generation...hope of a fresh start...hope for tomorrow.  

  The human race would be much better off if we, as a whole, would learn to listen to our critter and plant friends.  A bit of hope for the future generations can be as simple as a seed...a seed of kindness...a seed of generosity...a seed of understanding.  In a way, it is sort of funny how an old dog and a weed can give better advice than most people that I know.