On an atypically warm Antelope Valley morning,
the llamas blink a declaration of hunger at me
I walk down the dusty, winding trail
surrounded by mountains that remind me of my great inconsequence
It’s Thanksgiving and my dog’s eyes brim with unflinching love
as she accompanies me, untethered, down the path
I’m beholden – we all are – every single one of us,
to those who have embraced us and to those who have pushed us away
“The tiniest squirrel is the aptly named African pygmy squirrel—only five inches long from nose to tail. Others reach sizes shocking to those who are only familiar with common tree squirrels. The Indian giant squirrel is three feet long.”
National Geographic
There are things you ought to do quickly: running races and putting out fires come to mind.
But most things are better done slowly and with full presence: eating, visiting with friends and family, petting your dog, folding laundry, washing dishes, drawing scary rabbits…these daily activities are what make up the vast portion of your life.
“There is a big difference between having an opinion and being in the grips of an opinion.”
Eckhart Tolle
The need to possess trophies speaks to a weakness within the consciousness and a tantrum of the ego.
Let nature be. Appreciate her in all her glory.
Peacocks (male peafowl) are believed to display their fantastic feathers in order to woo peahens. They are never aggressive in their courting…
which makes them smarter and better than (some of) their human counterparts.
“Enraged, Diana turned Rhodanthe into a rose and her suitors into thorns.”*
*http://www.ecbdflowerstore.com/108103.php
I shared my drawing of llamas today with my fifth graders.
I got a rousing, “Not bad!”
For some reason, they loved yesterday’s 5 minute timed writing prompt:
“Describe how to drive your teacher crazy.”
Ahhhh. Kids.
Each morning, I open my drawing book, 20 Ways to Draw Everything. I make myself draw whatever is in front of me. I am always tempted to draw the easiest figures. I might start with the easiest, but I know that I will not get better if I stick to the simple ones. My initial goal was to draw all 20, but because I have only 45 minutes to draw before I go to work, I choose about six: a few easy, a few difficult.
It’s become my morning meditation.
It’s pre-sunset and I navigate the dark to the kitchen,
boil water, grind beans and allow the two to fuse in the French press
Open the drawing tablet and book – smile
choose a page arbitrarily and put pencil to paper
Child: “Mom, did you know the Smiths are pescatarian?”
Mom: “Really? I had no idea. Which church do they attend?”
Kismet 