Took a driving business trip to western Pennsylvania on Friday. It was a lovely day - warm and sunny - since I started out at daybreak and headed west, I was able to see the country gradually light up. I remain incrediably thrilled with the trees, just rolling hills of trees. Occasionally there was a break in the trees to reveal old farm land, more occasionally, new tract homes. Even this late in the year, down here there are still beautiful leaves on the trees - beautiful red, gold, orange, all colors mixed together - particularly on the trees in town where the wind hasn't been on them hard. However, as I expected, the farther north I went, the fewer leaves.

On the question of what is different here, the trees should number among the highest. Since I'd only been here once in the winter, when I came here in May to look for a house, the foliage on all the trees came as a shock - particularly in navigating on the highways. Out west, since you can see for miles and miles, it is possible to navigate at least in part by line of sight. That's not possible here at all - there are whole subdivisions, shopping centers and highway interchanges that you can't see from the road. It takes a shift in navigation skills to go strictly by the road signs, not looking for landmarks. It's a bit overwhelming and confusing. It really reveals what we adapt to unconsciously. I know people who have moved west who love the vistas the way I love the trees here.

woman at the well