Today, Karen and I are on vacation. We decided to go to the Maquoketa Caves to explore. It is a beautiful place, and walking within the wet stone womb of the cave is a sort of primal experience.
I was amazed at the the moss and ferns that grow directly out of the limestone rocks. I was also reminded that my 42 year old body tires out sooner than it used to; which sort of goes hand in hand with the yellowing leaves and shriveling flowers hinting at the summer's bearing end. The seasons and cycles of life are all around us.