In the late Summerl, Maria and I came upon this home-made and very old hunting “Posted” sign, long abandoned in favor of the bright yellow plastic signs that tell hunters the property is not open for hunting or trespassing. Maria, ever the artistic soul, decided to paint the sign, she painted leaves that reflected those that were casting shadows on the sign. Now, the leaves are gone, but they are still there. Maria’s work remains, a beautiful and poignant remember of warmth and color.

The sign is still doing it’s work, reminding us of Spring to come, green things to grow, the return of color and light. Time, like change, comes fast and furious, I love the winter for many reasons, one is that it reminds of how precious the color and the light are to come, and how soon they will come back to me. And you.

I remember the day she painted it, I was recovering from my heart surgery, I was struggling and sweating to move up the hill. It is a benchmark for me now, I nod to it and salute it every day when I go steaming past it. Remember, it calls out to me, remember. Be grateful.