April brings spring and Earth Day and we decided it was a good time to share stories from our nature lovers. Whether digging in the dirt as children, camping with their own families as parents, or spending their retirement in the garden, so many of our clients clearly love and appreciate the natural world. Their story is a love letter to family memories and a grateful tribute to Mother Earth.
Kathy T.
“My father was a Boy Scout and loved the outdoors. He was head of the Mt. Hernon Outing Club and I was often a tagalong. My mother was engaged and playful, tomboyish and physical in nature. They both emphasized connection with the Earth and the natural world, so my siblings and I spent a lot of time camping, hiking, tending gardens, and all that. We went to peace marches for the environment and heard people speak about civil rights and international issues. I can see now that a lot of it was rooted in our parents’ values.
“I was a happy kid. I liked to climb trees, roam the woods, and pick flowers. I was happiest out in nature. When we moved from Gill to Windsor, it was a big change. The area was more developed and there was less opportunity to explore. I missed walking in the woods, which had become a big solace for me. I loved losing myself out in nature. My classmates were all from the suburbs and I felt like a fish out of water."
Agnes G.
“We traveled with the kids and had plenty of experiences out in nature. Whatever appealed to the kids is what I wanted for them, as long as I had the time and money! Even just a trip to the zoo or out to enjoy the local parks and rivers, that was living life. There was always someplace new to explore.
"In 1971, we took them to the Grand Canyon. There was a recent snowstorm and there was snow out in the middle of the canyon. There wasn’t anyone else there, just me, my husband, and our children, looking out to this big abyss. I couldn’t even talk. I just leaned over to V. and whispered into his ear about how beautiful it all was. The silence and beauty just took my breath away.”
Bob M.
"As kids, we were always outdoors. In summer, we rode our bikes everywhere and went skinny dipping! In winter, we went to my Aunt Mary's house, who lived on a big hill, perfect for sledding. They blocked off the street, and all the kids used it as a big ski hill. We were always outside playing, but had to be home on time to do our chores. Living on a farm, there were plenty of those to go around. I was a good kid and did what I was told, milking the cows, cleaning out the hog house, or getting the ground ready to plant. We were always busy doing something.”
Angela V. “Thinking back to childhood, I remember the beautiful fall colors, jumping in the large piles that we spent hours raking. Then the smell of the leaves burning, and ice skating on the pond. I remember slinging my skates over my shoulder to walk to Willett Pond, where I met with friends and skated with them until we were too cold to keep going. I couldn’t do any fancy moves, but I could keep up with the boys racing across the pond to an invisible finish line.
"Years later my sister and I skipped school and attended the first Earth Day celebration in downtown Denver. I wasn’t really an active participant, more just observing everything. I knew changes were needed and I was ready to grab on. As a teenager, I appreciated any idea of being radical!"