Margaret Cheasebro

 Like a yellow quilt, leaves covered the sidewalks. I walked on them, feeling like I'd been given something soft and beautiful to press my feet into.

That was what sidewalks along a street in Durango, Colorado looked like earlier this week. I enjoyed them as I spent a few minutes stretching my legs before it was time for my chiropractor's appointment. The leaves came from several different kinds of trees that had been planted near the sidewalks a few years before.

I don't often see leaves spread out like that. Usually, they're whisked away by the wind. I took my time ambling along the sidewalk, feeling the silky softness of the leaves under my shoes.

It felt like a luxury, taking a little extra time to enjoy a beautiful moment brought to me by nature, free for the asking. I need to remember to take the time more often to immerse myself in the moment.

I still see those golden leaves spreading across the sidewalks like masterfully sewn quilts. They blanket my memory when I need a few seconds to recapture their quiet beauty before I'm off to some other task that demands my attention.

Those leaves gave me a priceless gift that will remain with me for a long time. I may not always remember to take a few extra minutes to enjoy the beauty of nature. But when I need it most, I hope the memory of those leaves will remind me to stop what I'm doing and immerse myself in those beautiful fleeting experiences.

The next time you're driving along a busy street through town, notice the nearby trees. They line sidewalks, provide shade in parking lots, and add beauty to people's yards.

It can be hard to notice them when you're creeping through heavy traffic, worried about getting to work on time, picking up your child from piano lessons, or making it to a doctor's appointment. Those frustrating, irritating, stressful moments are sometimes the best time to notice trees.

The shopping mall in my town has a lot of trees. They provide boundaries between roadways and business parking lots. They make certain parking spots look inviting because they protect vehicles from the hot sun. Their decorative leaves lace the air with intricate designs. Blossoming trees perfume the air and splash color with artistic flair.

You may only have a second to notice a tall, majestic pine tree spreading its branches before the traffic light turns green. You press the gas pedal as your vehicle springs forward, never noticing pine cones that decorate grass around the tree.

Your eyes may barely catch the small stately tree with leaves that grace the sky like a finely embroidered shawl. In your quest to get to your destination on time, you will pass dozens, even hundreds of trees, all filling the sky line with their own unique beauty.

What would we do without trees? We hardly think about them or about the care it takes to keep them healthy. Once in a long while we might catch a glimpse of lovely trees along the sidewalk as we park our car and hurry into the grocery store.

Trees are a constant gift to us. When we notice them, our lives feel a little richer and a bit less stressed.