2.08.2012

And Then Suddenly, All In A Moment, We Realized How Good It Was


It's a wise practice, I think, to every so often remind one's self of the incredible nature of things.

So many things.  

Life.
Breath.  
Breathing.  
Gasping.

Whispering.  
Speaking.  
Hollering. 
Screaming.

Smiling.
Chuckling.
Laughing.  
Witch-Cackling.

Toe-Wiggling.
Walking.
Running.
Escaping.

Last night someone took a pastry cutter to the sky.  After pressing it to the darkness, twisting once or twice (for good measure and a clean cut) and peeling away the scraps, there was left a large, round, luminescent cookie.  A moon cookie.  Because we live miles and miles [and miles] from anything resembling a shopping mall, this very stunning moon cookie found no competition for its brilliance.  Here there is no streetlight to overpower (not a single one), no neon sign diminishing our view from the ground, and finally, up a three mile driveway surrounded by thousands (thousands) of acres of wilderness, there are rarely even any headlights.  So last night, ironically, in a world where too much is never enough, this powerful pastry moon bathed the entire forest in light.

This, this was enough.  

Enough to cast shadows.  Enough to see your footing on the dry, packed snow.  Enough to plainly observe with your eyes the incredible nature of things.  And - without the noise of cars, trains, sirens, or even logging trucks - enough to hear life with vivid clarity.

The fog of hot breath in 7-degree air.
A quick gasp before mounting a snow tube at the hill crest.
The whispers of children to their parents: Yes, it's SO fun.
Screams that ring like a bell choir through the naked birch trees.
A dozen gleaming smiles.  
A cascade of giggles.
The cackling of friends rough-housing in a soft, forgiving world.
Toes that wiggle in their boots, rousing one another... stay... warm....
Walking through a gap in the trees (how are the stars this bright?).
Running to catch a ride to the top of the hill.
Escaping all mind-clutter as we whoosh
          - downward, faster, spinning -
                 through the forest.

But no, this is not escaping. 

This is finding.  We are finding out that


things


are 


incredible.

2 comments:

  1. This keeps you/me "centered" doesn't it Belle...Love, Mom

    ReplyDelete
  2. Three things:

    One: This, THIS is good. Absolutely wonderful.

    Two: After that last post, I resolved to stop reading this blog while in my office. My sniggering gives away the fact I'm not analyzing numbers in excel.

    Three: We can start a book exchange if you want? Kind of like a cookie exchange but without the calories. :) [except for there's a chance I might not own the book you request...which could stop this idea before it even starts]

    ReplyDelete

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