A Slice of Winter .......

I love days like today. LOVE them. Freezing cold temperatures, bright clear skies, and lots of sunshine. I find them energizing and exhilarating. Somewhat spiritual actually.


So after work today I decided I would WALK to Curves. (Cue accolades, pats-on-the-back, good-for-you-Cathy, etc......whatever you got, keep it coming, I'll lap it up.)


On my way down the hill I spotted a huge hawk perched atop a tall evergreen across the street. While I stood and watched, it spread its wings and flew to a tree even closer to me. I felt very fortunate to witness this in spite of (or maybe because of..) this was all a few yards away from a busy street and a 7-11.


A few blocks later and with dusk gently descending I noticed the moon beaming white against a pale blue/grey sky framed by the outlines of proud dark evergreens. Local mountains blanketed with brilliant white snow loomed to its side.



The moon was so bright and so white it reminded me of a lighthouse beckoning us to acknowledge the beauty of the winter season and the sheer power of it all. It never ceases to fill me with awe that I am gazing at the same moon that millions of other people world wide also gaze up at in wonder. And this is the same moon that people hundreds of years ago also looked at and dreamed under. I was so grateful to have caught this most magnificent winter scene and so appreciative that I wasn't in my car where it would have been difficult just to stop and become lost it the beauty of it all. Sometimes life spontaneously reveals a image so pure and intense that time and the rest of world passes while we are still caught in that moment.


I arrived at Curves full of energy and enthusiasm. By the time I came out night had fallen and while I could no longer see the mountains as clearly, I could still see the white face of the moon.


P.S................since walking to Curves and working out is double the daily exercise, my second helping of manicotti tonight just doesn't count.

P.S.S.--Now I have the lyrics to Neil Young's Harvest Moon in my head..

http://www.mp3lyrics.org/n/neil-young/harvest-moon/