Life continues; a new cycle begins. It’s the shortest day of the year. Imagine our ancestors noting the the diminishing of light and wondering anxiously if the sun would return…and it does! We are so used to “knowing” all this that we can grow so jaded and incapable of surprise and awe. But why not retain the ability to be surprised, delighted, bowled over by the wonder of Life?! And also to include Death in that cycle. One of my favorite passages from Walt Whitman (from Leaves of Grass, “Song of Myself”):
“What do you think has become of the young and old men?
And what do you think has become of the women and children?
They are alive and well somewhere,
The smallest sprout shows there is really no death,
And if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at the end to arrest it,
And ceas’d the moment life appear’d.
All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses,
And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.”
Looking through my files of photos, I found two that I remember as being surprising moments of serendipity, both of which are of birds. Birds are surprising. They alight and fly off at their own whim, so catching one on camera is a gift. The first shot is one I took with the little Lumix when a hawk landed in the maple tree right outside my bedroom window. To have this elegant wild predator just a few feet from my hidden wide-eyed face was a real treat. I had to take the shot through a dirty window, but still…
This second shot is one I took the first time I went to a State Park with my brand new Canon Rebel T3i in hand. Sandhill cranes were flying overhead, and I took a chance that perhaps with this new camera, I would actually get a clear image.
scillagrace 
Stunning photographs! For me, what’s exciting about today is that the days will get longer now.
I look forward to that, too. I am definitely a sunshine person and after last night’s storm, the bright light is welcome! Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Beautiful shots, Scilla! Wonderful words.
Thank you, Naomi. I picture you in some costume with your wide-eyed, open-mouthed happy look…and I bet you have a bunch of those photos in your files!
________________________________
That is a funny image! I hardly even know how to approach this theme. It always comes to me the day after they post the new weekly theme!
Well, technically you can have the whole week to post, as I understand it.
Oh, yes. I always feel so far behind. I have spent two days just trying to read through and catch up the backlog of my blogging buddies’ posts, and I still have 900 to go. Then when it comes time to post, I stop reading and dedicate myself to posting, and then there is more catchup. I need a better system!
Wow! You must follow a lot of blogs. That takes a lot of time. I did a major purge of blog follows a while ago. It felt slightly cruel at the time, but so liberating.
________________________________
I do follow a lot of blogs–don’t even know how many. I only post about once a week, and I think the problem is keeping up with people who post three or four times a week or that many times a day. I’m glad you didn’t let me go! You are one of the writer/photographers I really look forward to hearing from.
Oh, you definitely made the cut with flying colors!
________________________________
🙂
Isn’t it wonderful to have the shortest day over and be on the way to spring.. I am a love of light and find the dark oppressive.
Brids are so full of life aren’t they..
That should be birds of course !!
Certainly 🙂
________________________________
You are a few hours closer to spring than I am, then!
________________________________
Actually it’s only 8.50pm but I am tired so I suspect I shall soon go to bed so the day will be over for me.. 😉
Sweet, bright dreams to you, dear!
You got a great image!
I did! Much to my surprise! Thanks 🙂
________________________________
What an amazing picture of the cranes!
Thank you, Sarah! I was quite pleased and glad I treated myself to that new camera!
________________________________
I think birds are fascinating. Nice photos! And happy holidays!
Thanks, Doree! And happy holidays to you, too!
________________________________