Snakes, Small Daisies and Sunshine,

Copyright © By Nick Grimshawe

Winters on the south coast of British Columbia, while mild tend to be dull affairs, with cloud cover hiding the sun for months in a row it seems. This winter wasn't mild either, so, all inhabitants of the coast greet the first breath of spring with enthusiasm.

Yesterday I took my daily walk with the dogs. Our regular walk takes us along the top of flood dykes, which hold back the Fraser River in times of high run off from the snow pack up in the surrounding mountains. Emma and I like the stroll along the gravely Dyke road, but Felix, whose enthusiasm for the run knows no bounds, loves the open fields of grass below the dykes. Felix probably quadruples our distance with all his running back and forth in the fields.

While a stiff cool breeze kept me snuggled into my coat, the first warming rays of the sun kissed any exposed skin. I tell you it felt wonderful. Other transformations continue at a rapid pace. A deep, green, carpet of grass replaces the washed out greens of winter. Buds swelled to bursting on the roadside bushes.

Accompanying the Robins' arrival, a whole host of birds flit around, busily establishing their domains.  The Flickers are back too and up to their old game of tag with Felix who is blind to the futility of the chase. To him the chase is what counts.

 Felix gets the nod for demonstrating the first lesson of the day. Stay in the chase. Take joy in the journey and look for no expectation other than the thrill of having lived. For Felix it is not about the result but the process.

On our way back, walking along the headlands of a meadow, I noticed these tiny little while blooms amid muscular tuffs of grass. Upon closer inspection, these delicate little beauties appeared to be some form of tiny white Daisy. Against all odds, they grew and flourished beside all the aggressive grasses. Lesson number two. You don't have to be a dragon slayer to make your mark upon the world.

For the last ten minutes of the walk, I put Felix on the lead and work on his obedience training, of which, he is making progress at last. As we pass a section of the verge, Felix started straining at his leash. I turn to scold him only to discover an amazing site.

In the rocky grass, ten garter snakes, basked in the sunshine. Pulled from their nest by the warmth, they put on a show as they moved under and over and round each other. One snake stood out, being twice the size of the others. Mother perhaps?

Why was this little show placed in my path? At this point, I do not know. Perhaps just to focus my attention on the day, perhaps to create an impact big enough for me to write about it, perhaps for some other, currently obscure reason I will discover in the future.

For now, I am the student waiting for the teacher to show me the third lesson from my walk.


Nick Grimshawe