At multiple points today my past came rushing back. As we discuss our nature collages, reflections of our experiences with nature, I am flooded with memories of farms, of lakes, of family and friends. Picking cherries in family orchards, tailgating to get to the heart of the trees, dangling from the back of the pick-up as we bounced over irrigation hoses. And camping. Thinking about spring nights spent around a campfire with friends has me wanting to unbury my tent from the basement, make plans for May. Later in the day we brainstorm people, places, and experiences with nature that have defined us. I remember strongly wishing I could be a fresh water mermaid when I grew up.

All of this has me thinking about just how strongly place defines us. I am tied to nature today - a home gardener, a hiker, a camper - because of my formative experiences with nature. But the way I live today - urban, technology driven, gadget geared - is so different from how I was raised. I grew up on a dirt road, in nature, orchards and lakes just outside my door. I step out the door now onto concrete. Streets and neighbors closely packed together, no open space within walking distance. What will this place mean for my sons? How will this place define them? And how can I help them make the connections to place - to nature and their place within it - that their father and I have?