I went for that promised walk in the woods this afternoon, only to be filled with sadness when I discovered much of the forest had been clear-cut. I have much love for trees and the wonderful sense of calm and beauty forests hold, so it’s always so painful to see them destroyed on such a large scale. Even my favourite tree has been destroyed, its beautiful birch branches now touch the ground and wait to be carried away. Before leaving I took a piece of its bark so that I can have a part of it with me even when it has been destroyed. I will now have to hold much of the magic of this place inside me, for it has been lost to the outside world, and that is a terrible shame.
In the evening I went to a gathering with my family. It was enjoyable, and the food was good, but seemed somehow more hollow than I’m used to. It may just have been that there were key people missing, or that the day hadn’t been all that joyful, what with the discovery of the fallen trees, which had more impact than I would have expected. Seeing any beauty destroyed is very saddening.