The class was great.  I feel so honored that I was able to attend.

The students have all gone home.  Only three of us and some staff remain.  I sit on my porch by myself drinking in the sounds of the forest, not a human sound to be heard.  Birds are chirping – at least 4 or 5 different calls from different directions.  One, I can tell he is flying by as he sings.  All the birds have high pitched sweet songs so I imagine them as small birds.

The breeze randomly changes from light to storm-like back to almost still.  The leaves sound like thousands of small pieces of paper rustling in the breeze.  There is the constant twack as leaves or twigs fall and hit other leaves and branches on their way down to the forest floor.  Then a large wind kicks up and all the branches stand at attention instead of drooping down.  The soft rustle turns to a louder roar becoming one solid sound like a distant train instead of a thousand smaller sounds. 

The whole pattern repeats.  Then the chirps of insects start to join the chorus as the sun starts its slow retreat.  Even though the sun is not gone yet, the temperature drops to needing long sleeves.  But I’m too enchanted to go get a different shirt.  The smells of dinner cooking start to show up with the bigger breezes.  I half expect to see elves or forest fairies.

Tomorrow I go back to the bustle of cities, trains, hotels and laundry.  Today I imagine this is what life was before cities, trains, hotels and laundry.