The Acorn's Turn

Nature is waking up from its long slumber and pulling back the covers of snow. What we have is a sign of a new spring coming to life. I'm not sure there is a better sign of that than an acorn. This one in the picture may never grow into a mighty oak tree, but it can at least provide food for a hungry little forest creature.

That brings me to the odd thing though. This might be the first time going to this nature park when I didn't see any animals there. Not a single one. No birds. No deer. No geese. And most of all, no squirrels. I guess it's true that it's always darkest before the dawn. I know that the animals are only biding their time, waiting to make sure the coldest days of winter are truly gone.

I know they are still there. The evidence is all around. I follow their signs, their tracks. I see where the deer have been through here in the past few days. Their tracks in the snow at the sides of the human trails are becoming more numerous. They all seem to be heading down to the melting lake. The squirrels are staying mostly in their nests, but sometimes I see their little footprints on a fallen log here or there. What I mostly see is rapidly melting snow.

You know, I really liked the way the acorn and the acorn top in the first picture looked just lying there when I walked up to them. So after liking that scene so much, I decided to ruin it by flipping over the acorn top to try to make it look even better. Which one looks better to you? The first one is real, it's the way nature arranged it. This second way was shamelessly changed by me, in a misguided attempt at artistry.

I think nature is probably the best artist that has ever existed. I don't mind changing it one bit, because I am part of nature. We are all hands of nature. But we should admit when we change it or try to help it along. Trying to fool somebody with our meddling never really works. Even if they don't know, we know. My conscience told me that the first picture is the better one.

But back to this acorn. What does the future hold for it. Will it be crushed under a human foot? Will it be kicked aside to the dirt so it can try to grow into a mighty oak tree? Will a hungry little squirrel grab it up to sooth it's rumbling belly? I guess only this acorn will ever know.