An Oddly Apt Comparison
Several weeks ago, I traveled to the Hudson River Valley to share a day with my brother and his family. When I boarded the train in Manhattan, a sense of excitement washed over me. I desperately was longing for a change of scenery, if only for a day. (Not owning an automobile, all my travels rely on public transit or the kindness of a friend.)
I’ve written and reflected upon the Hudson River Valley, its towns, its cultural history, and, of course, its natural beauty in the past. However, this occasion allowed me to experience sites and places beyond those sitting within easy walking distance from a train station or transit node.
While driving along a wooded road, my brother suggested that we enjoy a modest hike through Poets’ Walk Park, a restorative open space originally landscaped in the 1850s. The park offered a scenic view of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains. As I quietly absorbed the landscape, I felt why people choose to build a life in this region.
At one point during my visit, my brother remarked that the Hudson River Valley reminded him of where we grew up in Western New York. I initially laughed at this thought. Yet, the more I dwelt upon it, the more I understood his observation. Yes, the Hudson River Valley is partially populated by affluent New York City refugees or those desiring a second (or third or fourth) home to play the yeoman farmer. Nevertheless, the landscape–the woods, the fields, the river, and the mountains–comfortably ensconces one. The natural world is everywhere you turn.
My brother’s and my hometown rests along the Allegheny River, surrounded by hills. On nearly every street and on nearly every corner, you can look upward and see those hills. In this way, my brother’s comment regarding the Hudson Valley River echoed true. Both landscapes allow one to imagine that a larger, outside world does not exist. Nothing but wilderness stretches beyond the hills and mountains. Wandering along a riverside or a forest path, one might escape the noise and commotion of modern life and, if fortunate, catch a glimpse of Eden.