November.

Today I went to a presentation done by Laura Runge a PhD professor from the University of South Florida. She presented one of her many essays of her research and artistic perspective of the Hillsborough River along with photography from her many trips to the river. Laura passionately began the reading with a slideshow of pictures from her trip to the river back in November. Her essay, conveniently enough, was titled November. Laura decided to bring her son on this trip to Hillsborough because he has better eyes. She was also anxious to explore the park and river through his perspective as well. Spencer was eager to explore the river immediately after he arrived. This was not something Laura would normally do, however she followed Spencer in hopes that he would help her to see new things and explore new areas. After arriving at the next park, Laura decided to show Spencer “her rock.” They canoed to an island where they explored and pretended to be pirates on a beach. They found “tree knees” that were taller then Spencer himself. They also found and amphitheater where the steps led to the river. Scattered amongst the steps where hundreds of nuts. Laura and Spencer eventually found themselves kicking all the nuts into the river. They continued to Sergeants park where they watched various birds go about their business as usual. They came across an African American man who was fishing in the river. He eventually caught a large mudfish. They also came across more birds like the solitary and fierce blue hereon and other creatures like turtles and alligators. Eventually they left and drove to Lettuce Lake Park where they came across more animals. They ended their trip at Rotary Park where Spencer walked on the tips of stone pillars that were about three feet long and three feet apart. This trip made Laura think about many aspects of life. Laura was able to use this trip to get a new perspective on life. Watching Spencer play Laura contemplated the concept of movement and play in a natural habitat. We all have a connection to the organic world. This natural habitat is so often forgotten to be our own. However this is the world God created for us. The earth and the trees and the rivers and mountains were all made for us. This world is our natural habitat. It’s hard to think of the organic world while being surrounded by these artificial habitats we’ve created for ourselves. We’ve successfully removed ourselves from the earth itself in a way. Yes we live on the earth but do we live in it? Do we appreciate the nature around us? This trip also conjured up thoughts in Laura of life and death. As morbid as these thoughts were it made her realize that everything dies. Eventually the trees will die, along with the plants and animals just like we will all eventually die. And with death comes new life. Nature is our moral connection to life.

Laura did this project to understand nature deeper then she did before. She repeatedly went to the same five parks every month and wrote about her experience and observations to practice and commit to the surroundings and reflect on contemplative traditions. This project improved her awareness, photography skills, writing skills and reflecting.

Laura decided to begin this project when she realized how out of touch she really was with Florida literature. She found that before this project she knew very little of Florida’s nature and history. This project helped her to improve her knowledge of Florida to eventually improve her understanding of Florida literature.