As so often in my life when solace is needed, yesterday my feet found themselves on a trail climbing up. It hasn’t rained in nearly two months and the dirt is pulverized where people and horses have walked. After a couple of miles of up, I popped out into Tired Creek Basin into a narrow meadow filled with wildflowers and butterflies. The painted lady (Vanessa cardui, a migrant from northern Mexico) is the most conspicuous and showy. Amber-orange fritillaries swooped around, along with coppers, blues and hairstreaks that I have not taken the time to learn. For a few moments I forgot everything except following them from mountain daisy to paintbrush. I surrendered to curiosity and delight. They don’t hold still for long.

When I continued my hike, I was thinking about how life goes on. Whatever sorrow and trouble I bring to the mountains, sooner or later I am reminded that life continues to unfold in familiar and mysterious ways. It doesn’t hold still for long. A song popped into my head to keep me company on the trail. If you grew up listening to the radio in the late 60s and early 70s, you will remember the ringing guitars and vocal harmonies of The Byrds. This one stands the test of time:

Song lyrics to Turn! Turn! Turn!:
Words-adapted from The Bible, book of Ecclesiastes
Music-Pete Seeger

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late