Saturdays are typically packed with fun social activities…but
given this nasty cold, not this one. This has been a day spent in intermittent slumber,
watching countless movies, lots of meds, vitamins, and with a steady aroma of
eucalyptus, rosemary and peppermint in the air.
(The good news? I was often able to actually smell those wonderful
scents!)
At some point during the day, I wrapped up in a warm blanket
and sat on my deck for a bit to breathe some fresh air. My deck is one of the features that drew me to this house. The deck makes me forget that I live in the busy
city of Roswell with my neighborhood entrance on an 8 lane road. Sitting here it feels as though I’m living in
a remote area of Georgia.
Fortunately, for me (and my neighbors), the deck is very
private with a row of evergreens separating me from the row of houses behind. With my deck flanked by these beautiful trees,
lying in the sun is not so intimidating… and sitting outside in my robe with a
cup of coffee or tea is quite comfortable, even in the Georgia winter.
Not only do the trees create a visual
barrier, but a noise buffer as well. Because
of where my house is positioned in the neighborhood and the benefits from the Evergreens, I can
sit quietly – often enjoying nature’s choreography. (Countless birds sing and dance all
around.) This private little respite
facilitates some serious thinking, sketching, reading, and writing all the while
causing me to forget that I live in the burbs. It’s
a tranquil setting – and in the (almost) year I’ve lived here, I don’t know
that there has been a single day when I’ve not sat outside for a bit. Nature speaks to me in ways it didn’t before…it’s
calming yet simultaneously, nature also refreshes my soul and ignites my mind.
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| No filter - a breathtaking, untouched sky |
On this particular February day, while getting fresh air, I was
struck by the vibrant blue sky. It was
gorgeous. The “blue” reminded me of
September 11th. The
recollection of the crystal clear, blue sky that morning before all Hell
literally broke loose - has never left me.
In the strangest of ways, I’m glad.
Too easily we forget the watershed moments in our life’s story…. 9/11
was significant to every American. (This could be another entire post on a
different day.)
For now, in this moment - I’m grateful for the reminder of
that fateful day… for the lives lost in the attacks were not lost in vain. Countless first responders sacrificed their
lives for the benefit of others… and those men and women shall not be
forgotten. My own children were
profoundly impacted by the events of that day – with one direct result being my
son’s current career in the USMC.
Why
would we want to forget the way our country came together in the days that
followed that historic Tuesday morning? With all the mudslinging currently taking place leading up to the
election, it’s good to remember that Democrats and Republicans united for a
greater good. We were literally "United States". I pray it won’t take
another 9/11 to get everyone united once again.
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| No filter - just a bright blue, untouched sky....and the trees that gracefully provide a visual barrier between me and neighbors on the street behind my house.... |
Back to the here and now after my mind wandered a bit - the
clear blue, beautiful skies are a reminder to never take a moment for granted…as in the case of September 11th, we never know what the next breath holds. We don’t know who will be next to us, sharing
life with us, making us laugh or making us cry.
Embrace the journey, moment by moment, whatever comes.
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