Things Worth Remembering
Sunset comes and goes and we are not yet in harbor from our kayaking trip off the coast of Harpswell, Maine, when suddenly we are surrounded by seals who seem to be escorting us into port safely. When we had seen them earlier on a rocky wedge of an island, they immediately spooked and dove for cover not to be seen again that day. But on the way in, just as the sun went down and the reds and pinks faded to greys and darkness began to swallow our sight of land, suddenly their heads poked up all around and between us, and they stayed with us until we reached the shore. How cool is that? And when I told a friend at work about the powerful, mystical feeling that came from that experience, she told me about a film I should see, "The Secrets of Roan Inish." I had trouble finding it, but finally did and discovered the mysteriousness and spirituality of my experience with seals are contained in Irish folklore and revisited by the John Sayles movie.
As I walk from the 96th Street subway stop next to Central Park at 11 at night, I suddenly spot a full moon as it edges its way above the trees, but only for a second then it is gone from sight. I step back, step to the side, and ahead again trying to recapture the moment, but cannot. It is so rare to find the viewing space between buildings, glare,and smog to see the sky from the pavement, let alone something as wonderous as the moon. It was reassuring to see it.
I watch in awe as 34 college students from 16 different countries as well as the United States are completely focused in small group discussions as they try to figure out whether or not "The Narrative of Frederick Douglass" is relevant to their own lives today. Within those groups are individuals from competing, and in some cases, warring nations;yet they work together, laughing, puzzling, discovering.They all seem to be focusing on the idea of freedom within, as well as the importance of reading and writing in that process of freeing oneself. And I think that perhaps here lies hope for the human race.
I realize the bear who is now two feet from me is the cub I befriended last year and he is not afraid of me and actually seems excited to see me. His ears are perked straight up and he is looking at me straight in the eyes with what I can only describe as sheer glee. My hands are full with two buckets of water from the well pump. I want to take them inside without spillage, but my route to the door goes through this rather large, eager creature whom I hope is not hungry, just friendly. Finally I find my voice and quietly say, "Back up, come on, back up now. I need to go in," and wonders beyond wonders, he does. Black bear expert Ben Kilham says bears are able to distinguish individuals and actually relate to individual human beings differently. They do form relationships. And it is so true. This bear and I share a connection, one that Ben says will last a lifetime.
Four rememberings: two from up north, and two from the city. Unexpected connections with animals other than human beings punctuated with vivid details and inner awakenings mark the two examples from up north. In contrast, the city moments are also a contrast within themselves. The first city one is a surprise glimspe of something beyond the city, greater than. The other is a result of the immense diversity of this particular city and the connections that can be made to remind us we are all part of the same species. Four examples of moments worth remembering that I, at first, listed lightheartedly, which I now find not to be superficial in the least, but in fact, hold the key to why I call two such different places my home. One is the touchstone for my soul, while the other awakens me to the world beyond self, and in doing so, challenges me. In the Native American way, it is most important for the individual to find a balance between the universe within oneself and the universe without. I find that the process of discovering and rediscovering a balance is called living, not simply existing. It is not always comfortable, but it is surely, for me, enlightening.
As I walk from the 96th Street subway stop next to Central Park at 11 at night, I suddenly spot a full moon as it edges its way above the trees, but only for a second then it is gone from sight. I step back, step to the side, and ahead again trying to recapture the moment, but cannot. It is so rare to find the viewing space between buildings, glare,and smog to see the sky from the pavement, let alone something as wonderous as the moon. It was reassuring to see it.
I watch in awe as 34 college students from 16 different countries as well as the United States are completely focused in small group discussions as they try to figure out whether or not "The Narrative of Frederick Douglass" is relevant to their own lives today. Within those groups are individuals from competing, and in some cases, warring nations;yet they work together, laughing, puzzling, discovering.They all seem to be focusing on the idea of freedom within, as well as the importance of reading and writing in that process of freeing oneself. And I think that perhaps here lies hope for the human race.
I realize the bear who is now two feet from me is the cub I befriended last year and he is not afraid of me and actually seems excited to see me. His ears are perked straight up and he is looking at me straight in the eyes with what I can only describe as sheer glee. My hands are full with two buckets of water from the well pump. I want to take them inside without spillage, but my route to the door goes through this rather large, eager creature whom I hope is not hungry, just friendly. Finally I find my voice and quietly say, "Back up, come on, back up now. I need to go in," and wonders beyond wonders, he does. Black bear expert Ben Kilham says bears are able to distinguish individuals and actually relate to individual human beings differently. They do form relationships. And it is so true. This bear and I share a connection, one that Ben says will last a lifetime.
Four rememberings: two from up north, and two from the city. Unexpected connections with animals other than human beings punctuated with vivid details and inner awakenings mark the two examples from up north. In contrast, the city moments are also a contrast within themselves. The first city one is a surprise glimspe of something beyond the city, greater than. The other is a result of the immense diversity of this particular city and the connections that can be made to remind us we are all part of the same species. Four examples of moments worth remembering that I, at first, listed lightheartedly, which I now find not to be superficial in the least, but in fact, hold the key to why I call two such different places my home. One is the touchstone for my soul, while the other awakens me to the world beyond self, and in doing so, challenges me. In the Native American way, it is most important for the individual to find a balance between the universe within oneself and the universe without. I find that the process of discovering and rediscovering a balance is called living, not simply existing. It is not always comfortable, but it is surely, for me, enlightening.
posted by AYankee @ 9:16 AM
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