The sound was different from anything heard before, between a coo and scream. Looking up all that was seen at first were long legs dangling from a large body and then huge wings flapping as if they weren’t sure they could hold this big body in the air. Seeing the eyes, looking down at both of us as if to say, “I’m either going to get you or fall!” I grabbed Charlie’s 75 pound body and threw him in the house. This was the largest good ol’ Tom Turkey flying about 20 feet above our heads heading for the rooftop of the house that I had ever seen. I have no idea where it landed or where it went, but Charlie and I were breathing heavy in the house looking out the back door to see if it returned. I have seen turkey’s pecking on the kick plate on the front door and waddling around the lawn from time to time. I have only ever seen one fly and it was stuck in a tree. It’s buddy was screeching at it, telling it to just flap the wings and float down to the forest floor. And that is what it did.
The turkey the other day came out of nowhere and was just flying 20 feet above ground. This was a new phenomenon! Similar to the amount of birds, and different types of birds I have seen over the last few weeks. The number of deer and squirrels have increased as well.
Then you begin to see animals around the world, coming out of the woods and walking down streets. I saw that in Yosemite, the bear are walking where people usually are, instead of staying in their areas of safety, away from crowds. This phenomena is being replayed everywhere in the world.
The air is also cleaner. I can smell my cherry blossom tree from across the lawn, something I have never done in 15 years of living here. I see stars brighter than ever. The air is crisp and smells wonderful. The lilac tree can be smelled from further away. The mint from last year that is beginning to reemerge from the winter can be smelled throughout the yard. The scents, the animals, crispness, all new and all beautiful! This is how we are supposed to live, this is what our land should be like. Not the fog-induced smell from exhaust and factories, but the clean smell of the universe, of nature! This is what our planet should have more of, areas and times when you smell nature, you get to enjoy nature at it’s best not the worst of it that we have created as humans.
Perhaps as we all begin to notice these changes around us and realize how good the world can be, we will be more careful with it when we begin to move about more. Perhaps we will take better care of our planet. Perhaps we will allow animals to live more freely without fear or harm. Perhaps we will drive less so that we keep the air clean. Perhaps we will recycle more, we will use less things that are harmful to our world.
I, for one, have a whole renewed appreciation for the world and the earth and less patience for non-sensical travel, plastic and things that are convenient yet harmful. I have more patience for doing things with the planet in mind, doing things that will help us rejuvenate our world not kill it. I have more love and appreciation for the animals who co-habitate with me on my property and am finding that I am enjoying watching them a bit more. I am more in tune with how the sky looks, how the air smells, here where I live, not just the wide open spaces I like to explore!
This time has shown us that we need to think about who we share this planet with and allow them to have more of it than we have. We don’t need to take their land away, we need to make the most of what we already have and allow it all to regenerate. This time has certainly punctuated the point, we share this planet with nature and we need to consider nature in all we do.
To a cleaner and healthier planet, we owe the world that. This time, this pause, showcases the earth and it’s response to our staying home. It is coming alive in a way that is saying to all of us, pay attention and change what and how you do it. I know I will do my best to be a better partner to the planet. I owe it that!