No 4: RIDING ON THE WIND
PHOTO BY MARJHAN VASSEGHI
MARJHAN VASSEGHI
I walk to school, feeling the breeze sting my cheeks and hear it whistle through the already naked trees. Wind whistling through the trees, missing the autumn, when they were dressed in their usual fiery reds and mellow yellows, and there was something to coax with it’s icy voice. Feeling the chill through my whole body, I think back to Mother Nature’s gift of snow days.
As I think of the Wind coaxing the leaves, I remember all those times when I was young, and I would get up for another day of school, only to be surprised that it would be cancelled due to the overwhelmingly white blanket draped over our tiny town. I remember trying to run out of the house to play with my friends - wearing nothing but my long underwear, and my mom pleading with me to put more layers on so that I wouldn’t catch a cold. Once I was wrestled into a cocoon of warmth, I slipped into my snow boots and grabbed my blue and purple sled, running out to meet my friends. We met near a glistening hill of powdery, sugary snow, taking turns pushing each other down the hill. When I reached the bottom of the hill on my turn, I yanked on the strings of my sled, bringing it to a stop. Once my head stopped spinning from the adrenaline rush, I stepped off my sled and decided to make a snow angel. Laying down in the snow, I noticed that I was underneath a Tree, it was naked and vulnerable - just like how I felt with my eyes toward the sun. I saw the Wind sweep and trill through the branches of the Tree, looking for, and missing it’s leaves.
Nearing school, I notice the Tree at the foot of the hill - the one I made a snow angel under - it stood there, vulnerable in the Wind. Realizing that I still have time till school starts, I sit under the Tree, dreaming about the warm, welcoming Wind of the spring, and rolling down hills of freshly cut grass, landing in a bed of orange tulips. I remember how at peace I felt laying there, looking up at the sky - cloud watching. I remember my friends coming to join me, bringing a picnic basket, we spread out the blanket and unpacked the basket of food. We hung out in that field of tulips all day, eating, talking, and playing cards.
Opening my eyes, I glance at my watch, 10 minutes till class, I stand up from my post at the Tree, grab my bag, and step back to admire it. Standing there, I recall what this Tree means to me and thank it for all it's done for me. Just as I begin to say goodbye to my old friend I see a blooming bud on one of the top branches, accompanied by my other friend, the Wind - this time warm and grateful that life has returned to the Tree. Spring and new beginnings are on the way. It makes me smile to know that the tree I had planted many years ago is prospering, and with that I walk to school.
