Message from the Mountain

May 2026/ Issue #23

Green can Heal

Green is the color of life, renewal, nature, and energy. The color green has healing power and is the most relaxing color for the human eye to view. Green helps alleviate anxiety, depression, and nervousness. Green is new growth, rebirth, and harmony. Isn't that amazing? Nature uses green to symbolize bringing in new growth! Sometimes we tend to take it for granted, watching the cycles come and go. I don't know about you, but I can smell the color green.

Some may laugh at that, but those of you who know, well you know. Green smells like nothing else. It is like a fresh day, full of hopes and dreams, that goes well with a cup of good coffee. The Green sways in the gentle breeze, waving in the birds, bees, and animals. It is so inviting, even if you can't see it. You can smell it. You can hear it. Not only that, but you can touch it. The Green teams with life and business, and like clockwork, the Green offers a place of gathering for all. I have walked outside barefoot and let the Green heal me, melting away the stress of the day. It's great! I highly recommend it.

The photo above is a spectacular West Virginian view. The rolling hills, dotted with patches of farm fields, then splattered with trees, are some of nature's finest artwork. The differing shades of green are breathtaking, and pictures cannot even begin to capture the reality of the wonder. It is my hope that I can share these wonders and may others, with you.

They Walk Amongst Us

By Jeffrey Pryor

I took this picture at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, outside of St. Louis, Missouri. I was attending a Memorial Day celebration and there were a lot of moving parts and people there, but nothing as powerful as this moment in time. The US Army Sergeant, moved gracefully through the headstones, alone and with a gait that was full of life experience.

The uniform is WWII era, and on the left sleeve, two diagonal hash marks for 6 years of service, and 4 horizontal gold bars, depicting 6 months in a combat zone for each bar. You can do the math on that. I remember speaking to the old warrior as he walked by.

He acknowledged my existence with a smile and moved on about his business. I remember saying something corny like, "Thank you for your service." But in reality, I wanted to tell him that my grandfather was in the same war that he was. I wanted to tell him how much I admired and missed my grandfather. I wanted to tell him that I'll never forget the sacrifices that these men made so I could live the life that I do. But I didn't. Instead, I watched him walk away to his old truck and get in, then look out over the sea of headstones, pop a salute, and drive off. They do walk amongst us. With the arrival of May, we need to take time and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day. Thank you for reliving this moment with me.

For those who never made it back.