As I step into Oakwood Cemetery I can’t help but think about the rich history that resides within its gates. Oakwood Cemetery opened in 1859, its first inhabitant a woman of just 21 years old who perished from consumption. Many have been interred in Oakwood, ranging from the Syracuse elite to unknown soldiers from the Civil War. As I walk deeper in I find tombstones so weathered they are unreadable, the names and dates etched into the stone lost to time.

            My walk is a quiet one, eerily so. It is February in Syracuse and not much life is detectable. In fact, the signs of winter are everywhere. Trees stand naked, save for a scattering of evergreens. Leaves litter the ground and the grass lies brown and dead. Occasionally, I encounter patches of snow and ice that remain un-melted by the sun and rain. I don’t come across another human being as a wander. Nor do I spy a single squirrel or any other wildlife. I keep an eye out for movement and listen for the rustling of animals, but it’s mostly quiet. The wind appears to be the only thing crackling leaves. I reflect on my journeys into Oakwood in the fall and summer months. There are always squirrels, chipmunks and other small mammals scurrying about the trees and headstones. The sounds of birds pierce the air and insects buzz and crawl. It is hard to believe this is the same place. Nature lies dormant during the winter months.

            Considering my original intention in coming to Oakwood was to leave the bustle of Syracuse’s city life and immerse myself in the natural environment offered by the cemetery, the lack of wildlife and greenery is rather disappointing. However, the emptiness and quiet of my surroundings is calming and serene. I feel my stress melting from my shoulders. I suddenly connect with Henry David Thoreau. In his essay “Walking” Thoreau discusses how nature is an outlet for him, how he would go insane if he was unable to explore nature and was imprisoned indoors forever. I relate to this. Exploring nature allows one to escape from everyday responsibilities.

            As I meander back to SUNY ESF campus I begin to remember my school assignments and classes and everything I still have to accomplish today. My responsibilities begin to weigh heavily again and I can’t wait to revisit this place and escape.