By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff
If you’ve ever done a StoryWalk, you know the tranquility that comes from the potent combination of being outside and enjoying a children’s book. StoryWalks, in which pages from a children's book are installed in regular intervals along an outdoor path, are especially perfect for mild seasonal weather.
Fittingly, during May, Westwood Youth and Family Services, the Westwood Public Library, and Westwood Early Childhood CFCE Council worked together to provide three StoryWalks around Westwood, with installations at Sen Ki, Hale Reservation, and University Station. I opted to visit Hale, where hikers could find "The Three Little Yogis & The Wolf Who Lost His Breath: A Fairy Tale To Help You Feel Better" by Susan Verde set up along the path.
Last time I went to Hale Reservation, I managed to get lost in the woods for several hours. I also managed to get lost before I could even reach the starting point of said hike - an impressive accomplishment, even for a directionally challenged individual like myself.
This time, though, I was prepared: I called ahead to get the correct directions. I asked someone at the front gate where I needed to go. I also brought my dog, Mabel (she has no wilderness skills; I just figured I could use some company if I got lost again).
After making my way to the correct parking lot, I loaded up my bag with dog treats and grabbed my my camera. Mabel eagerly jumped out of the car, ready to enjoy some new smells and get some energy out. I was ready to venture into the very-easy-to-navigate wilderness. I reassured myself that the walk was mainly set up for families with small children.
The first page was easy to spot, located right next to the entrance of the trail. The illustrations of three pigs and a wolf were so adorable that I immediately took a picture to show my mom later. Mabel pulled at the leash and let me know that it was time to go see the rest of the book.
I’m sure Mabel did not listen to a single word that I read aloud to her - after all, she’s a dog. But it did make the walk go quicker as we trekked through the woods, enjoying the story of a little wolf with anger issues who learns to do yoga from pigs.
About halfway through the walk, Mabel and I arrived at a spot where the path was surrounded by taller foliage. I took a moment to make sure I was headed the right way. Fortunately for me and my anxiety, I spotted the next book board.
“With my luck, there’s going to be a snake in there,” I told Mabel with a sigh. “Please don’t try to eat it if we see one.” I know that it’s useless to tell a nine-month-old puppy not to eat a snake, but it’s mainly for my reassurance. Mabel is a bit of a wildcard when it comes to other animals. She’s barked at bison and Highland cattle, but will avoid geese and deer at all costs. So of course, I try to convince her not to do something before she does it.
As I approached the end of the trail, I stopped and wondered if I had missed a storyboard. It turns out I was only at the start of the wolf’s yoga journey. I proceeded onward to the last board on the trail and realized it was connected to a field. There’s something much less scary about being lost in a field than the woods. I spotted a beehive, a few fruit trees, and the next board. Eventually, I followed the path of the boards back to my car, arriving back without incident.
I returned to my car much more relaxed than I had been when I started. Mabel jumped in and curled up into a ball, clearly tired from the excursion. With this walk done, and thoughts of the wolf who lost his breath in my head, I wondered if I should learn yoga. Maybe I’d go on more walks and hikes if I were a bit calmer.
