In the evening as the sun is beginning to set it is a relaxing time to move about outdoors. The cool breeze against my skin is welcome after having finished being in the kitchen. With camera in hand, I walk carefully through the grasses and weeds and watch out for gopher holes that might cause a sudden downfall of my body. Wildflowers and native plants in bloom wait for me to take their pictures.
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| White Shasta daises blossoms with their orange centers |
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| White Ocean spray blossoms |
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| White Himalayan blackberry blossoms |
The sound of a chain saw can be heard in the distance. I decide to walk down the road a little ways. A neighbor is sawing around the fence and the tree where there was an accident that took the life of a young man when his vehicle hit a cherry tree earlier this week. As I walk further up the road somehow the sounds of birds chirping relax my mind and calm my heart somewhat as I ponder the mourning of the deceased's family and friends. I hope the sounds of nature do that for them too as they consider the words of consolation and prayers offered by others.
The snow-capped mountain peak off in the distance isn't as visible as I was hoping this evening, due to the haze. I'll try to get a photo another day.
As I enter the house once again, I feel warm from the exertion, but glad that I chose to take an evening walk.
I'm so sorry there was a fatal accident right near your home. When tragedy hits so close, it's impossible not to wonder about the family and friends and their grief and experience it ourselves a bit too. Maybe a human reminder of empathy. I love the photos of the flowers - daisies blooming always make me smile. So glad you joined!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kristi. It was fortunate that I did not witness the accident as the car burst into flames upon impact, and it was impossible to retrieve the driver by the time someone arrived. Just knowing that, after the fact, affected me deeply.
DeleteSO much of the beauty and the sorrow wrapped up in this five minutes. Moving through it all is right.
ReplyDeleteIt was very right for me that evening.
DeleteOnce upon a time I used to go for walks for blog thoughts. Very often I would come back with something to write. That's a great "two-fer" - two for one benefits walking/writing.
ReplyDeleteWalking kind of clears the mind of "stuff" in order to let new ideas emerge, or to allow peace to enter in.
DeleteSummer evening walks are a small piece of heaven. And the flowers are begging to be photographed!
ReplyDeleteTo experience a small piece of heaven at any time is a great blessing.
DeleteOh how tragic! I hope the family is eventually able to find peace in the serenity of the outdoors, as you are.
ReplyDeleteI hope that for them too. I've also thought about those who come to try to rescue and see horrific scenes such as this and be unable to rescue the person inside.
DeleteI am sorry to hear that such a terrible accident happened in your neighborhood. Such things have a way of making us all too aware of how fragile all of this is--right in the midst of where we go about the banalities of our lives. I think the piece did a beautiful job of wrapping up that sadness and uncertainty in such a recognizably peaceful and calm life experience...it really captured the jarringness of such a thing. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteThank you Hillary. I needed to walk and to write. Both were helpful to me.
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