Travels with a Chiweenie

Earthquakes, eclipses, now coyotes in the park – OH MY!

Just before I came to the city, I got into a serious debate with someone, I can’t remember who now, about Central Park not having coyotes.  This person INSISTED it did and I called them absolutely nuts.

Hmph.

I owe you…whomever you are-an apology. And since coyotes do live in Central Park, Frida had to stay home.

The North Woods is at the far end of the park and noted for its very wild, forest-like pathways and water features. It is the only spot in Central Park I haven’t visited.

Today delivered an extraordinary experience.

I don’t hike.

It isn’t that I don’t like to hike, I do. I just shut down over orienteering.  Yes, you can use Google maps – but when in the park…sometimes it doesn’t work and ultimately you spend all your time looking at a screen – I try to avoid that and use a stationary map.

I know where north is…I know east and west…but for some reason I still get “lost.”

I know I can’t get so lost as not to be found, even in one of the biggest cities in the world.

But you can lose yourself in the majesty of nature, nature that sits boldly in the arms of Gotham.

The trees have filled in, the sun kisses each leaf as if today “Hello Lover!”

I am in love.

The great thing about adventure is an adventure is where things don’t go as planned and you find yourself better for it. 

As I wandered the woods, feeling frustrated I couldn’t find what I was looking for, chiding myself for even trying…I looked up at the what once were bare trees and took a deep breath, decided to just walk, even if it didn’t lead me to where I thought I wanted to go, even thought it felt completely the wrong direction from what I was seeing on the map.

The path was long and winding, just like the song, and it went on for a long time. I just released to the beautiful day and thought – if I don’t get to see today what I was seeking – it will still be here when I return, I will always have a chance to find it.

Just then, I heard the water rushing from the Glen Span Arch. There it was, the pool, the arch and all the other things I was hoping to see. I sat down on a bench and couldn’t help but be struck with how I didn’t feel like I was in NYC or even Central Park. Not because I couldn’t see the buildings tower over from the west side, but because I had never considered the park as a whole. That this component could exist without my knowledge, it felt like I was on a vacation from my adventure.

Realizing your orienteering in life, sometimes can’t be seen as a whole, maybe it is just a part you need to consider – helps when you are surrounded by such well-designed, natural beauty which has always been there and you are now just witnessing.

The thirty-minute walk back home, thru the park, from a direction and route I hadn’t been on was filled with so much joy of watching the variety of people there, running, biking, birthday parties or just sunning themselves on a blanket. The moment my unknown path rolled into Frida’s potty spot, and the sense of home was present made me cry.  How blessed I am, how grateful for the opportunity to seek, struggle and eventually find whatever comes next.