Just as I was missing Middle Earth, an opportunity to celebrate my favorite mythical country appeared. All the Hobbit movies have had their theatrical releases. All I have to anticipate still is the extended edition DVD of The Battle of the Five Armies, which will release in November. I’m looking forward to seeing the additional footage incorporated into the film. However, I was missing the Dwarves, Bilbo, Gandalf and the Elves now.
Into my Facebook newsfeed dropped an announcement about Middle Earth Summer Camp! I was delighted. It’s a virtual camp that runs today, July 17-Sunday, July 19. The “camp” is divided into four teams: Dwarf, Hobbit, Elf and Man. Step one was to choose my team.
This was more difficult than I thought it would be! Well, I quickly eliminated Man. Being human, what’s the fun in choosing that team? I debated between the other three. I have a fondness for each, for different reasons. The Hobbits are so good-natured, love the simple life, and have amazing gardens! The Dwarves are fierce, warrior-like, yet playful and they love music. The Elves are the guardians of Middle Earth, along with the Wizards, lovers of beauty and nature, and hospitable.
After much consideration, I chose Team Elf. Rivendell, which inspires me greatly, and is home to Lord Elrond and a multitude of Elves, was the deciding factor.
Today was Ent Day. Ents are ancient beings who dwell in the forests of Middle Earth. They look like walking, talking trees. They think deeply, speak slowly and consider every side of a situation before making a decision. Treebeard was featured in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and befriended the Hobbits Merry and Pippin.
Our task for Day One was to write a haiku celebrating trees, and Ents in particular. The haiku is a form of Japanese poetry containing three lines. Line one and three contain five syllables each and line two has seven. Each team member who posts a haiku earns points for his or her team. Posting a picture of an ent-like tree garners bonus points.
I had a long and busy day but as I drove from appointment to appointment and ran errands later, I was more aware of the beauty of the trees around me. Even the slightly comical looking “tornado trees” inspired me today, with their tenacity in surviving against the odds. I had intended to walk through the trees along the river at Wildcat Park, but by the time I got home I decided to appreciate the trees that survived in my own yard. I snapped a pic of the Redbud that bent and twisted in the storm yet held firm to the earth. Perhaps at one time, this tree was an Ent! Regardless, I’m glad it withstood the tornado.
And here is my Ent Haiku:
Consider the Ent
Whose wise thoughts and words run deep
While his roots do not
I had fun with Day One of Summer Camp. Days two and three will carry me through the weekend (just wait until my family sees how we are celebrating the day tomorrow!), engage my creativity and satisfy my longing for Middle Earth. I love these little surprises that Life offers up!
