In the spring of my freshman year, I decided to adopt a dog. I was just 19 years old, and it was a decision that my mom did not initially agree with. But I was coming to the end of a first year of college defined by Zoom classes and social distancing, and when I met Maeby, a rat terrier/chihuahua/cattle dog mix, it felt like a bright light of love had entered my world. Maeby’s entrance into my life coincided with the end of a cold winter and the beginning of a life-giving spring in a way that has always felt somewhat magical to me.
I love my now 5-year-old dog for a million reasons, but one of those reasons is that she strengthened my love for the outdoors and for green spaces, which I never really expected. Anyone who knows her will tell you that Maeby is a perfect dog — she came to me somehow fully trained — who happens to have a lot of anxiety. My time with her has been incredibly easy, but she has challenged me in that her terrier spirit, extremely quick legs and love for fresh-cut grass require several miles of walking every day. After being cooped up in my dorm and, later, my apartment for the entirety of my freshman year, I was forced to go out and see the world with Maeby.
In the past three years, I have spent many a morning with Maeby in James Agee Park, a small green space tucked into Fort Sanders that is well-kept and usually full of a wide variety of plants. The park, which honors writer James Agee, was established in 2003 and since 2018 has been a Knox County Master Gardener project — part of UTIA’s Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Program. Master gardeners are trained volunteers who assist with the upkeep of parks and help educate the public on gardening practices.
When I had had Maeby for just a few weeks, we went on our daily visit to the park, and Maeby befriended a volunteer who said he was getting the park all ready for her to enjoy. I felt so happy and grateful that there were people watching out for a space that had quickly become so important to me and my new dog, who is passionate about nothing more than rolling around in grass and sniffing flowers.
I have always loved nature. I grew up going to outdoor camps and taking trips to the Smokies, but small green spaces have taken on a new meaning to me as they offer a chance for animals and humans alike to take a break from looking at cookie-cutter buildings and litter lining the street to admire nature that provides a sense of optimism.
Whether we’re exploring James Agee Park, World’s Fair Park, Sequoyah Hills Boulevard or Cherokee Farms, Maeby and I are always finding new green spaces to explore — some of which people forget are just a short drive from campus or are even kept up by people closely affiliated with UT.
Getting outside and gaining respect for nature doesn’t require hiking boots or a tent or a drive through the mountains. All around campus and Knoxville, we have opportunities to love the earth and explore it with the people — and furry friends — we love.
