This morning is a healing time as I deal with the death of my aunt. I walk through a pine forest whose paths are covered with pine needles and full of bare roots. The rest of the forest floor is a bed of ferns. This is my favorite spot on the mountain. I have always loved pine forests, ever since I was a little kid. My thoughts drift to my childhood and times with my cousins and my aunt and uncle. And I think of my grandfather, who used to take us on walks in the woods and point out all the different foliage and fungi. He knew the names of all of them and which ones were poisonous. I would love to have him walking by my side again and educating me on all that I am seeing.

The ferns somehow pull my mind into thoughts of the Garden of Eden. What was it like? Was it like this pine forest in places? I imagine it having ferns. This spot has such brilliant greens and deep – almost black - browns. And it is so peaceful. I think of my aunt – at peace now. And I hope that heaven is a little bit like this mountain.

Koda and I journey on past 3 tree trunks fallen yet still standing. They lean against other trees and each other in an interesting natural sculpture. One of them reaches over the path and we walk under it. The trail goes downhill now for a bit and crosses a stream. Someone has built a small wooden bridge. I use it, but Koda doesn’t. We are now on a dirt road and we walk past Echo Lake. It may be called a lake, and I don’t know what qualifies something to be a lake (my grandfather would know), but it looks like a pond to me. My mind adds this to the picture of the Garden of Eden. As we walk past the pond we hear the funny pop-buzz noises of bullfrogs from the other side. The sound echoes across the pond. Ah, this must be why it’s called Echo Lake! It’s another peaceful sound to help sooth my sad soul. Koda takes a swim and laps the surface, and I drink in the view.