Last year, driving
under Loop 1604 to head for St. Hedwig, new construction marred the once open farm
land. Gas stations and fast food restaurants flanked the exit while signs for a
new housing development promised homes starting at $200, 000. The road into the
complex and three or four skeletons of large homes hinted that “progress”
invaded our treasured rural area. For many springs, we’d take off on Saturday
or Sunday mornings for a thirty mile loop from our house through St. Hedwig and
over back roads until we circled back to Live Oak. During one of these treks, we
discovered a stretch of road with a windmill and an endless field of flowers.
This year, more signs
of San Antonio sprawling east scarred the area. My heart hitched a beat or two
as our usual route detoured due to construction on I10. The bare-boned houses
from last year now stretched to the right in multiple streets of completed
homes—all bold, ugly squares that scarred the landscape. I worried that my
favorite field of flowers would now be plowed under.
A turn down one road
that winded eastward took us to the field and relief flooded my soul. The windmill
still stood against the blue morning sky with its flowers a colorful blanket
below it. I felt confident that the second wildflower spot, further down the
road, would stretch along the lane. No new construction blemished this part of
our drive. I don’t know what the future holds, but for now gratefulness fills
me that this field of flowers remains untouched.
Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman
