Waltzing with the Wind
7/16/08
Older trees around here on the Western side of the Cascades are tall. Very tall. You can’t see the top without tilting your head back about as far as it will go. The forest floor is thick with foliage and soft underfoot.
Recently, while camping, as I sat in my chair around the firepit, I paused to look at the forest around me. The quiet, of course, was noticeable, as was the telltale scent of the trees. So relaxing. The wide, wide trunks of the big trees were solid and unmoving. My thought was that they were strong pillars, and that each entire tree was the same from top to bottom. Big ‘ol trees, solid as could be. Then, I followed the trees upward until my head was way back and I could see the tips. It was an entirely different view. Those treetops were swaying in the breeze. Waltzing with the wind.
You’d think this would have been visible further down the tree, but no, that wasn’t the case. You had to look high to see this change. Of course, I’d noticed that many times, but hadn’t thought about it much. Later on, as I pondered it more, a thought came to mind. This simple fact about the difference between the base and tip of the trees made me realize that first impressions should not be used for a basis for decisions. You should take at least one more look – even if it means craning your neck or otherwise going a little out of your way to get the whole story. Who knows? You may be pleasantly surprised as a result.
Alltime Favorites
My absolute favorite quote:
“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention”
Francis Bacon
Excerpt from essay entitled Of Studies
………………………………………….
Favorite writers:
O. Henry
Tom Robbins
John Irving
Jane Austen
Not Again
8/19/08
Apparently I’ve been using the term “adventure” a bit too frequently of late. My son has asked that I refrain from using the term so much in my plans for summer activities. No can do, however. For what is life without adventure?
Another One Off the List
10/19/08
Today, finally, I finished moving shrubs around and planted most of my tulip bulbs. Finally. There are just a few bulbs left, so I think I’ll be able to wrap it up tomorrow. Aside from roses, I think that tulips are my favorite.
Perhaps it’s their simplicity of design. Maybe it’s the bright colors. Or, it could be that their appearance signals an eventual end to cold and transition into warmer weather. Probably, it’s a combination of all three.
So the work I completed today will provide a nice surprise come April. This begs the question: what else can I do now to set up a Spring surprise? Take a class? Write some more? Find a few sentences lying around under all the dust? Who knows. But it’s something to ponder.