Long Walks On Leafy Streets

10/10/2013 Roosevelt Island, Washington, DC
After a period of warm weather during which it seemed like summer was unwilling to loosen its grip over this region we are now back to cool fall weather. I am able to enjoy this weather especially now that I have mostly recovered from whatever it was that was irritating my throat and causing mild flu-like symptoms.
Yesterday evening for the first time in two weeks I felt completely healthy and energetic. After a long day of work it was a pleasure to walk to Dupont Circle to attend Susan’s book group meeting. I have written about this group in the September 26 posting. Nicole and I met at the Panera Bread before the meeting, for dinner. It was drizzling the whole evening but rainy weather brings its own beauty and enchantment to nature. It was nice to see the trees happily dripping wet after a spell of dry weather. Dupont Circle area streets are lined very well with trees and the houses are also beautifully landscaped with gardens.
It brought a certain calm joy to be in the company of nature as well as each other. Perhaps we listen better to nature when it is raining. Thich Nhat Hanh says in this book that deep listening without judging is one of the most compassionate acts we can do to other human beings. I think listening to nature brings compassion to other living beings as well as ourselves.
During the past weekend Nicole and I enjoyed visiting couple of “green homes” as part of the Solar and Green Home Tour 2013 along with two other members of the nature lovers meetup. Both homes are in Takoma Park and had many environmentally friendly features. A “green” architect built the first for his family home. The cozy and comfortable feeling of the home perhaps due to the straw bale insulation especially impressed us. The home had many artistic touches and most of the material came from salvage yards. There is a company called Community Forklift that specializes in procuring and selling old building material and furniture. I wished I had the ability to design and build like that!
An environmental science teacher and his family lived in the other home. It had a big array of solar panels on the roof that generated more than what they used in electricity. They also had gardens all around the house that provided most of the vegetables and fruit that they consumed. It was amazing how much they had done in a small area. Owners of both homes were friendly and welcoming. It is very inspiring to meet people like that. Hopefully we will be able to make our home greener in the coming years.

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