The changes are beginning to show now but still sporadically.

There is a tree farm in a small rural area near where I live. I have visited it several times but the newly arrived colors caught my eye last week. As I looked down the long row of trees...I was taken to Southern France and it brought back memories from years ago. I once starred down a long grassy path flanked by trees such as these in Bordeaux. Me and my traveling companion were hitching from Paris to Barcelona. As we walked we we drawn to a grassy path much like this one. One of the freedoms of hitchhiking at least during those times was the freedom to step off the beaten path to explore what lies beyond.

Walking down the path our imaginations were teased with what might lay beyond the ridge...the path in Bordeaux was much steeper than this. As we topped the ridge we found ourselves looking out onto a beautiful patchwork of vineyards surrounding an old estate in the distance. Directly in front of the estate was a circular driveway with long reflecting pool lined with old tall manicured trees. We were worlds apart, cultures apart...us and the owner as we stood there gazing from the ridge, we unloaded our packs, pulled out a bottle of wine and some Gruyere cheese and lived for a while through the owner's eyes, taking in all that was around us.

Leaving the ridge and getting back on the road...little did we know that we would have so many other moments like this one during our journey...moments that will stay with me a lifetime. Moments that I can draw on in those times when I need to relieve the stress of daily life. At that time, in the moment, they were just another spot on the map...today as I thought back to that time, I realize what a great invention God came up with when he gave us the capacity to recall our past.

Dan