Over the past few months of this
pandemic, I have developed a new appreciation for my modest backyard. In the past, I never much considered
it. Sure, it had a swingset my four
kids enjoyed while growing up, and it provided a space to cook out on
occasion. Other than that, it contained
a lawn to be mowed, leaves to be raked, and mosquitoes to be swatted. The yard was an extension of a busy
household needing maintenance.
In mid-March, quite suddenly, schools and pretty much
everything else closed. The threat here
in New York was very real as we saw our rates of illness and death rise
dramatically each day. The quarantine
affected everyone. I particularly felt
for people in the City, who really could not safely go anywhere and had to
remain in their apartments as much as possible. More and more, I found myself wandering into our backyard.
While many in our area have swimming pools, trampolines, fire
pits, and other amenities in their outdoor space, our yard is fairly
minimalistic. Still, it is as if I
rubbed my eyes one day and woke up to its wonder for the first time.
We have our own safe plot of earth beneath our feet. We can lie down on it and see the sky
through the leaves on our trees. I can breathe
the fresh clean air whenever I want to.
I have come to know the noisy cardinal couple who make their residence
near our shed. I spotted one of the
wild Long Island rabbits scampering across the grass.
During distance learning with my 10 year old, we took breaks
in the backyard for "gym". We
had running races, played wiffle ball, and read on the swings together. Now that it's summer, we have added the
sprinkler to our play, and we may camp one night in a backyard tent.
When it first became evident that we would be spending more
time at home for the whole summer, I expressed to my husband that we had to do
something to keep the mosquitoes under control. He began to rip up the ivy on the side where they had been
breeding. Not only has that been
successful so far, but we've also discovered a treasure trove of artifacts from
our family history buried in there (along with many of our neighbor's lacrosse
balls). With the ivy gone, too, we
planted a garden and will soon be enjoying the tomatoes and squash growing
there.
Right in my own backyard, I have found safety and privacy, as
well as the sense of curiosity, exploration, and freedom that only nature can
provide. It makes me wonder...what else
do I already have that I'm not yet fully appreciating? What else are we thirsty for that we already
have access to?