Nature Note #162: Greetings from Marcellus
The sun is slowly rising over the nearby hills before I leave for work. Outside on the street, cars drive by regularly, but with little fanfare. In the spruces by our new apartment window, starlings jeer and chatter, while a squirrel hops towards a leafless tree, seeking shelter in its branches. As of this weekend, Alison and I will have been in our new apartment in Marcellus for about three weeks and we are loving every minute of it. The most noticeable feature of this small town is how quiet it is. Such quiet is palpable and greatly welcomed and calms our souls from the bustle and anarchy present along James Street. Clearly, we are well suited to the quiet small town life we were accustomed to back home in Massachusetts. Instead of hearing the wail of sirens and muffled arguments of neighbors, we now hear the gentle hum of a town clearly content with a comforting touch and small scale commerce. On weekends, the church bells ring at noon and six o' clock, while people walk and...