Peace and tranquility... (October 6)

I couldn't be happier that it's fall. Every summer I find myself missing the rain, and I never realize just how much I've missed it until we get a good, solid downpour that I can sit back and appreciate. Said downpour always gives me a feeling of being washed out and refreshed, mind and spirit. It offers to me a calm from the storm of pressing circumstances, monetary issues and whatever else may haunt me, making me weary and irritable. And then my mind is left open to wander, with music, words and image.

Yes, thus the blogging!

So I've been letting my mind wader, and I just want to share a few of those wanderings, because I feel there are a few things we forget in the rush of day-to-day life. I would really love to see this one turn into a progressive blog, so please, make this a group effort, and add your observations and memories to the blog after you've read... as many as you want. As many as you feel appropriate.

I know a few of you hike, but I know all of you have shared some kind of experience like this... and if you haven't, I highly suggest you go for a walk and don't be afraid to open your eyes and take your time. There's nothing quite like coming to the top of a hill, a ridge, or even happening upon some clearing that is unexpected, and suddenly being taken aback by the pure and sudden beauty. Beauty is everywhere in this world, but to happen upon it suddenly, to see a stretch of space within which Mother Nature has carefully tended each and every plant, rock, hill and mountain as if just to take your breath away. There's one view in particular that, every time I go this way on a clear day, makes me want to pull over and just soak in the view. Driving east on Smith Road, there's a certain very tall hill, and for some reason, I cannot think of the nearest crossroad at the moment. This hill has a definite crest, at the top of which, on a clear day, gives the most spectacular, indescribable view of Mount Baker. If you haven't seen it, go, don't just take my work on it.

I've always found it fascinating that a sunflower actually follows the path of the sun throughout the day. I got to thinking about that, much like I do overanalize when I'm in these types of moods, and I wondered, don't we, as humans, do that as well? Not with the sun, obviously, since we are not a blind race (well, some of you are lucky not to be blind, the rest of us have to make do with lenses of some kind), but we do follow something, sometimes to the extent that we, too, turn our face to follow it physically. If we are sunflowers, in a sense, what is each individual's sun? I know mine...

Alas, but I have worked on this too long, the rain has let up, and I'm starting to feel the press of the world again. Should you so be inspired, please, add to it, like I said, I wish this one to be a bit of a living post.

As always, thank you for your precious time.

(Monday, October 6)

[might as well take advantage of this time and lethargy, but need to accomplish something by reposting small bits from elsewhere!]