New York is very big - but also very small. I often feel that every Autumn I visit the same places but under different circumstances. For instance, The Palisades. The Palisades are technically in New Jersey - not NYC - they are just across the GW bridge. It's a relatively easy walk from my apt. actually. The first time I went there was with Evan. We went "hunting turkeys." He had gone a week or so prior and seen a wild turkey (in addition to deer and bunnies and normal woodland creatures, but the one that caught my attention was a turkey.) I wanted to go and begged him to take me. So we went - and saw very little wildlife at all. But it was beautiful - and wooded - and I thought I had to go again.
The next time I went, was with the Batman - in the middle of the night - looking for ghosts. I'm odd and actually enjoy woods at night, and Palisades held a special fairytale wonder with the stars and the moon - and the deer you could only see with a sweep of your flashlight. It was also much more Snow White lost in the woods running from the huntsman - because the tangle of branches which are so mystical in the light are guised and haunted in the dark. There is an element of danger and excitement versus the placid trailed that are illuminated by day.
The next time I went was with Kat - an avid hiker - who wanted to get out of the city. We went at Twilight - once again hoping to hunt turkeys. All of the paths which held so much mystique and tension now were athletic hiking trails to briskly conquer in hunt of wildlife and a bit of manifest destiny - how far could we go before it got dark. We saw no turkeys - but we did see about 20 deer and lot bunnies and birds and BRILLIANT fall foliage. Golden fiery hues - incandescent colors dancing about in the sky - and crunching beneath our feet. It was very memorable for a girl who grew up in Florida without the joy of leaves. Being completely engulfed in them - as opposed to detachedly acknowledging them from a sidewalk or street - was magical.
This year I went with Kat again. We were both somewhat morose over the JP situation, but thought some turkey sightings might do a body good. The leaves are turning late this year, they were much greener than last year. Still, our mood picked up considerably once at one with nature. This time instead of hiking - we more played about in what leaves there were and sang silly songs - and debated what would happen during that evenings gossip girl. A complete fluff of a day - but much needed.
But it's funny how I see the same trails - but sometimes they make me cry- and sometimes they make me goofy - and sometimes they make me strong...the same place - but seen through different eyes I suppose. Just makes me you think...or not...lol.
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