wander (v.)

Old English wandrian “move about aimlessly, wander,” from West Germanic *wundrōjanan “to roam about” (source also of Old Frisian wondria, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wanderen, German wandern “to wander,” a variant form of the root represented in Old High German wantalon “to walk, wander”), from PIE root *wendh- “to turn, wind, weave” (see wind (v.1)). In reference to the mind, affections, etc., attested from c. 1400. Related: Wandered; wandering. The Wandering Jew of Christian legend first mentioned 13c. (compare French le juif errant, German der ewige Jude).

Today was a day for wandering (to turn, to wind, to weave) in the coulee. Perhaps because I was unaccompanied by a four legged or two legged companion. Perhaps because my body felt slow. Perhaps because I could.

It was a day just before the riotous bursting of spring – the first flowers out, the aspens soft with catkins, touches of green here and there, the sky alive with flocks of snow geese and sandhill cranes.

For a time, I listened for the drumming of a ruffed grouse walking as quietly as I could. I remember doing this as a teenager…I was quiet enough and the eventual sight of the ruffed grouse drumming was unforgettable. Today, I wasn’t quiet enough… the grouse flew to another woods, but I did find his drumming log.