Blog Prompt 8/ Place Prompt 8 What I've learned and what my place has teached me real good

The semester's drawing to a close and this is one of those rare occasions when I've been in a shift in perspective prior to returning for the next semester. Normally, it takes me a month or more to actually process and analyze what I've learned in a given course, but I feel that because of the more interactive practice of writing from my place has given me the luxury of jumping to my realizations rather than easing into them.

So I seem to be meandering to the point of learning quickly. I come to appreciate the world around. Not just my backyard place, but I am more cognizant of the impact I'm making on nature with something as simple as driving to work. That's not to say that I was ever really ignorant, however our discussions on moodle and writing on this blog have afforded me the time to slow down and reflect. Especially during my blog, I've been able to see the thaw of ice and snow as well as being able to taking on my own personal thaw in my prejudice or preconceived notions about nature writing.

I still have some opinions that haven't been dislodged. I still don't like Thoreau, but feel the mental change that would have had to taken place would have to be on the same scale of a lobotomy. I still appreciate his role in essentially cementing a genre, even if it was established in such a way that the diversity has until recently been very limited in terms of subject matter. It was refreshing for me to discover a more urban nature writing as well as nature writing that is not so gaggingly reverent. I see beauty in nature, and don't think I need to be told so explicitly in every reading that grass is green and lush and wonderful. Thankfully, Mel showed us that there's more than that. I enjoyed some of the pieces like 'Ecology of a Cracker Childhood' with its gritty comparisons between her family and their environment. I loved seeing the way that the environment is reflected in those who inhabit a particular region.

I still haven't changed in the fact that I'd rather read about people than flowers, but we were able to read some pieces this semester that established human relationships (both good and bad) with the natural world. Edward Abbey was a breath of fresh air as were Joyce Carol Oates' pieces. I liked that we ventured outside of my preconceptions of the genre and I was even exposed to pieces that I didn't realize fit into the genre.

I feel this course has opened me up and enabled me to be more critical of myself and more analytical of the natural world, which brings me to my place. It's not in full blossom just yet but on this lovely morning it is lush with life. The birds have returned along with the dew. My world, the backyard that i know still exists and exists again, but this course really made me take into account that even when it's not a welcoming backyard, it's still there. I discovered a world that until now I'd chosen to only experience on a minute basis, but now I'm able to appreciate the minutia of my backyard. I can now recognize the bend of each blade grass or the nest that's forming on the window ledge on the back of our shed.

My stump has been worn in with my shape just yet, but I'm beginning to feel more welcome in my backyard. Before it was a false comfort, but what I'm developing feels more involved and genuine. I'm still looking forward to being able to cut the grass again. I'm looking forward to re-connecting with that lost part of my backyard and revive from the winter lull. Most of that brown patchiness has disappeared and I'm ready to take the next step into a greener life.