There is a magical place at the end of Beach Grove Road in Tsawwassen. It's a farmer's field that hugs the dike along Boundary Bay. Despite the sign not to trespass, walkers and dogs are welcome, at least for a few more days.
Almost daily for the past five years I have had the gift of walking the field with our dog Rosie.
In the winter, I persevere with the wind and rain lashing my face, trudging through giant puddles and mud. In spring, the green grass appears and the tender leaves of the majestic deciduous trees that border the field unfold. Eagles nest in two giant trees and sit in groups watching for prey until it's time to go north for salmon.
In the summer, it's hot and dry and part of the field is flush with potatoes and rutabaga, but it's the grass left to grow tall that the dogs love the most, disappearing into a miniature world of smells and small rodents. I have met people from White Rock who come to walk the field and as far away as London, England.
The private land will soon be fenced off so no one can enter. The new owner is leasing the land to organic farmers and adhering to organic standards means no pets allowed. It's been the talk of my community: "What will we do without the field?" The property owners have been nothing but generous and it's their right to farm it, but losing the field will be a big change for Rosie and I. We are going to miss its expansive space and calming atmosphere.
Change has been gripping me on the home front too. A loved family member suddenly passed away, my sister-in-law with Alzheimer's is going into extended care and I have family and neighbours struggling with cancer. Greek philosopher and pioneer of wisdom Heraclitus said it best, "The only thing that is constant is change."
Just around the corner there is a gentle reminder that while change brings loss, there is always rebirth. The rufous hummingbirds are nesting in the trees beside Beach Grove Elementary and bird watchers, with their majestic camera lenses, patiently gather for a glimpse of these delicate, beautiful creatures. finder so I can see what the A birder offers me his view-human eye cannot. A tiny threeinch mother bird sits patiently on a two-inch nest waiting for her babies to be born high up in a tree branch. It's an incredible sight.
In native culture the hummingbird symbolizes the enjoyment of life and a lightness of being. They are regarded for their adaptability and resiliency while keeping a playful and optimistic outlook.
I strive to be like the hummingbird, resilient to change and adaptable to the inevitable shifts in life while staying optimistic. This summer I'll be rooting for a healthy harvest from the farmer's field while Rosie and I find a new walking route and embrace the change that is ever present.
Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer who understands the need for change but doesn't always like it.
