Until It's Gone

Growing up I was lucky having the edge of the forest back up to our house. I remember the forest being a large part of my childhood. My parents took my siblings and me on long walks with the dogs, rain or shine. I was able to run through different types of trees and shrubs, bike down long narrow paths, and throw sticks into the lake. My family and I would spend hours in the forest, exploring new paths in different sections of the environment. We would often see deer prancing through the trees, birds singing, and squirrels jumping from tree to tree. The forest brought a sense of tranquility to my life, a place where I could step away from the world and just be with myself. I did not realize how much of a luxury the forest was until it changed. The rules for the forest were altered suddenly. I was not able to ride my bike through the forest anymore, only walking was permitted in certain areas of the landscape. Furthermore, the town changed the zonal rights to convert large parts of the forest for industrial use. The forest began to be demolished. Trees were cut down and replaced with cement roads. Fences were built and trucks were brought in. No longer was I able to see the deer bounce through the forest, hear the birds chirp or see the squirrels fly from tree to tree. Instead, the forest I used to adore as a child, was changed into a landscape that was ruined by humankind and used only for industrial use.