on the edge of the atlantic ocean
such an easy place to ponder and wander
—
“the mind has no existence by itself;
it is only the glitter of the sun on the surface of the waters.”
– d.h. lawrence
—
wells beach, atlantic ocean, wells, maine – august 2019
what a surprise and delight
it was to meet peter
(who is known as jonathan when in trouble)
the proprietor of a tiny shop near the beach.
how was i to know
that he was
a visiting nurse
a gentle spirit
a master
of local lore, directions, recommendations
who worries about what will happen to his store
when he is gone
and wonders
if the people who take it over
will be able to make enough money
in spite of some adversity
he was brimming
with happiness and passion
as we spoke at length
about the joys of sea glass
with all of its pits and scratches and imperfections
that only serve to prove
it’s the real thing
having survived
a long and challenging journey
having arrived at last
on a soft and sandy shore
collected by hands
that appreciate it for all of its beauty
exactly as it is
and he was extraordinary.
“for me, the difference between an ‘ordinary’ and an ‘extraordinary’ person
is not the title that person might have,
but what they do to make the world a better place for us all.”
-jody williams
—
wells, maine – august 2019
after a day spent
amidst the love and celebration
of a beautiful wedding
the night is waiting.
—
“before the first before and after the last after, there is night waiting.”
― d
—
cape neddick, maine – august 2019
morning has broken on the great bay.
—
“for whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It’s always our self we find in the sea.”
―
—
great bay, portsmouth, new hampshire
august 2019
In traveling to the east coast this week, I am touched, over and over again, by the people i see being welcomed by, and welcoming, others who they are connected to in some way. It is a story that never gets old and is never told exactly the same way twice.
—-
“May we greet each other with a smile, a hug, and speak kind words.”
-Lailah Gifty Akita
when giving a friend my new address
she was surprised
to discover
that she already was familiar with that address
and she could let herself in
as she already possessed a key.
she used to care for a little black cat who lived there,
bonnie.
her client happened to be
the woman who sold me my condo
and now
there is a new little black cat living there,
my olive.
there must be something about the house
that needs a little black cat living there
to feel like home
I think they would have liked each other.
—
“I believe that life is chaotic, a jumble of accidents, ambitions, misconceptions, bold intentions, lazy happenstances, and unintended consequences, yet I also believe that there are connections that illuminate our world, revealing its endless mystery and wonder.”
-david maraniss
—
image credit: getdrawings.com
now that I’ve moved from the west side to the north side
do I have to learn new signs?
—
“search for beauty without features, something deeper than any signs.”
-francesca da rimini
—
image credit: babycommunity.com
what a lovely surprise I found at my new home
when I came out to the front porch in the morning
an intricate web had been spun by a resident spider
such a beautiful welcome.
—
“salutations are greetings, it’s my fancy way of saying hello.”
e.b. white – charlotte’s web
some of us adapted to the move more easily than others.
—
“don’t let the good days get to your head, and don’t let the bad days get to your heart.”
-caroline ghosn
at last
I’ve moved into my new home
I’m going to call it
la casita pacifica
(the tiny peaceful house)
near the river, the flowers, the woods, the town, the family
“i’m really quite simple. i plant flowers and watch them grow…
I stay at home and watch the river flow.”
-george harrison
I didn't have my glasses on.... 