Morgan Creekmore

Natural Setting- Noland Trail

Fall was the perfect time to visit the Noland. I remember the imprint of the leaves pressed into the sidewalk and the red withered leaves caught in dry branches like embers from a fire frozen in place but barely held to the tree. I even saw a dried up, dead ant. The sounds of the runner's feet and the ipod music trailing off added a new level to the experience as did the actual smell of fall. Because dead leaves have a distinct smell which I can't really explain but it's familiar and nice. I liked listening to my feet crunch up against the gravel and crunching down the leaves as I walked up alone to meet the class. It was also nice to hear some about the history of the place, as I walked through I applied my own history to this place with memories of fall at my house. It's definitely true that there is "storied place" because place has a story in history as well as in our own memories of familiar places.