Fall walk takes mind off of political talk

What’s real? What’s not? Philosophers, mystics, and theologians have argued this question for millennia. I don’t know the answer.

But a fall walk late this afternoon helped put the upcoming election into perspective. Both are real — nature and politics. Yet only one calms the spirit.

Which I needed right now.
(click a photo to enlarge)

Here’s a vine maple that Laurel planted on our property. This is its reddish year.

Another one, even more dramatic than its neighbor.

Find the dog in the photo. Tough to do. Her Shepherd coloring blends with Oregon’s early November hue.

Having turned 60 this year, falling leaves have become a more meaningful metaphor for life’s evanescence.

There’s also simply what they are: damn pretty.

I started my walk too late in the day to get a lot of sun.

But what was left — just fine.

A massive golden oak tree near the lake.

Trees on the other side of the Spring Lake dam.

The setting sun, doing its thing.

Spring Lake, asking, "So, tell me, what’s wrong with the world?"

Hangers-on. Doing what they do.

The dock. Saying a lot. Wordlessly.

End with a sunset? Sure. I’m not afraid of a cliche. Especially a beautiful one.