shawnee mac lakes conservation area has been a quiet thread through my life for over a decade. tucked into the edges of small-town salem, missouri, it holds two serene lakes—ziske and turner—each reflecting the sky like a secret it’s willing to share only if you linger. the moment you step onto the path, the air shifts; birdsong drifts through the trees, and the scent of damp earth carries every memory i’ve left behind.
the hiking trails are my sanctuary. i have walked them with family, friends, and so many loved ones through the years, each season painting them in a different light. autumn burns the woods gold, winter etches them in quiet silver, spring brings that first tender green, and summer wraps the lakes in lush shade. no matter how much life changes, these trails remain steady—a living heartbeat of home.
today, i returned with my girlfriend, moving slowly and carefully, letting the pain of my injury set the rhythm. she stayed close beside me the whole way, her quiet presence like a steady current. we paused often, not just because i needed to, but because the view demanded it—sunlight catching the ripples on turner lake, a heron lifting into the blue, the soft rustle of wind that sounds almost like a blessing.
this place is layered with my own history. it’s where i’ve celebrated quiet mornings and long afternoons, where i’ve come to think, to breathe, to heal. it’s where my wife and i promised our forever beneath a canopy of trees, our vows carried across the water. shawnee mac holds the echoes of that day and countless others, a constant in a world that rarely stands still.
when i am well enough, when pain loosens its grip, i come back—because here i feel the pull of something timeless. it isn’t just a park. it’s a haven, a living memory, a reminder that love can root itself in a place as much as in a person. and every time i leave, i carry it with me, like a favorite line of poetry tucked safely in my pocket.
with ink + bloom, 🌻
Whispered Words | thtgrlinbloom, 🌻 
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