the green leopard

the spring is coming on, full force. i have been riding in cars more often lately - as opposed to driving them. and of course continue using public transit. i have started to consciously bring my attention to the flora and fauna when out and about: instead of looking at cars and buildings, i have started to practice looking directly at the plants and trees nestled in and around buildings, resting on islands or medians in the street. some manicured, some 'wild' - but often grown past where the pruning shear might trim it at some later date. and the birds have begun their tentative songs. people are also members of the fauna, and deserve at least a glance. out walking a dog or holding a bouquet of flowers (double sightings), or just bustling from work to lunch and back.

the city is also 'where the wild things are,' just not so obvious. or, perhaps because they are scant or hidden, they can be even more powerful to draw one's attention.

the trees are budding and blooming at an amazing rate - especially with our recent record heat wave. these remain, as always, hard to ignore. but having started turning to them when they were still winter dormant, they seem all the more fantastic. a slow-motion fireworks display, and different wherever and whenever you go.

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on this day, approximately 2500 years ago, prince siddhartha gautama - later known as sakyamuni, and 'the buddha' - was born in nepal. i have lately been reading peter matthiessen's the snow leopard, a brilliant chronicle of a man - recently widowed - trudging through the himalayas in search of a glimpse of the title's mammal. (it is not lost on me that he left his young son back home). i've also been watching 'julie and julia.'

the confluence of these streams compels me to foretell - after the foregoing rather mundane paragraphs detailing urban/suburban wildlife observations (or more precisely, the intention to make such observations) - a coming attraction to this blog. for those who may not have heard, my three sons and i plan to travel to nepal in august this summer. 'peter p. and peter m. and fred macmurray,' is the provisional title of these future blog posts.

let me know if you have any better title suggestions...