Melancholy & Meditations

Coming home from vacation can be a let-down (and in some ways a relief to be back in your own bed!) But I came home with a sense of wishing I'd had more time to do more things, and more time to spend just lazing around doing nothing. It was a terrific vacation, however, and well worth the time and long drive. And nothing to say I can't do it again in October (My fav time of the year!)

After getting caught up on chores yesterday, this morning I got up, determined to enjoy the gorgeous, cool and very unusual weather we're having here. I dashed to the bank, then over to the local Water Preserve for a nature walk. I enjoy walking in this park, there is always something different to see, and hear. So many dragonflies were out early this morning; I paused at the water's edge to watch the birds finding food and heard a croaking bullfrog; the egrets were calling out in their high squeaking squawks to one another; and there was the usual duck quacking. Further around the next corner, two hummingbirds, one quite smaller than the other, so perhaps a mother and baby. The smaller one seemed to have trouble controlling its flight as it tried to stay still and feed off a flowering plant. I watched a father teaching his young son to fish, heads bent together as they watched the line land in the pond.

There's nothing like a solitary walk in the early morning hours, no road noise, no people conversations, just you and nature; listening to wind sighing through the trees, your footsteps crunching on the gravel path the only manmade sound in your ears. Tis the best kind of meditation for me ... feeling at one with nature.

Quiet, peaceful HUGS to everyone!!

Go to your Happy Place!

You hear it often enough in movies... something not so good is going to happen, and they say "go to your happy place". Well,, for me, that's the beach, preferably in October when the sun is golden, the sand isn't too hot, and there's no local morning fog along the Santa Cruz coast. But I'll take it any time I can get it, now that I live so far away from it.

I traveled to the Bay Area the last weekend in July, and had been watching the beach forecasts all week -- most of them in the low 60's. But no matter what, I was getting to the beach. We went on the very first day I was there. My sister drove, that way we could all ride in one vehicle (Nice ride, Sis!). I was in heaven -- the morning fog had burned off by the time we got there. Thanks to a stopover at Big Basin Redwood State Park. And a side trip to Ocean View Park for some letterboxing.

It was so good to be on the beach again; sand curling under my toes, the smell of the water, even the decaying seaweed on the beach, with its not so pleasant odor was OK. Amazing how smells can bring up memories. It didn't take me long to divest myself of the things I was carrying; to dig out my camera and start snapping pictures. And into the water I went, toes feeling the first sting of the cold water (which is about 58 degrees). Maybe it was too cold for the others, but me and Bree were right there in it. After the first few waves, we were holding hands and braving the higher waves (ok, so they were only about knee high... hahaha).


While the rest climbed on the rocks, looking at the tidepools, I had a few quiet moments to myself. Time to sit and listen to the surf, the waves pounding against the rocks, let go of thoughts and feelings and just absorb what was there for me. (Now if only I had a whole week of this..... )

Our visit to the beach was over all too soon; and it was on to the next activity.
To get a feel for the weekend, see Fifty for my 50 :)

Vacation HUGS to everyone!