At the tender ages of about seven and ten, we were already learning that everything we do has consequences. The rest of that summer, we continued life in Golden Meadow, but our feelings about this special place had changed. That summer, there was no additional construction, but every day, we wondered if the bulldozer would be back. It was during this time that I realized that the small bare creases and spots on the hills were caused by erosion from off-road motorcycles. Also, I noticed that the shape of Golden Meadow was oddly rectangular, eventually realizing that this area was probably clear-cut decades ago.
Nature never subscribes to our ideas of geometry.
Today, the forest around our old subdivision is gone, and houses have replaced the mighty oaks that once stood there. The traffic is busier, there are fewer birds, and it is less peaceful. But, for some unknown reason, Golden Meadow remains unchanged. The pile of earth is still there, although now covered by fifteen years of indigenous growth. A few months ago, I left Michigan to work for The Wilderness Society.