passages of thought at the end of january

sunrise:  7:01

a few random thought passages this morning....



Sometimes, this time of year, people find themselves feeling a lot like this empty milkweed husk.  A walk around the pre-dawn world can do wonders to fill your soul.










Strange winter - plenty of ice but what little snow there was has disappeared.  The icy flow across the back field is an unfamiliar landscape, usually buried under a blanket of white.

There are advantages...it is much easier to get up and go - no boots necessary.  But I am still looking forward to snow's return:  visible animal tracks, the smell of snow, cold moisture in the air, the crunch underfoot, the glide of cross-country skis, the highlighted detailing of tree branches, the silent footfalls, and the brightness that glows from the ground under a night sky.

As of this morning, my four children are now living in Los Angeles, Washington, DC, New York City, and Boston.  Our family is spanning the country.  We will more thoroughly span when A moves to St. Louis next summer.  Where will everyone land when it comes time to settle down, I wonder...?  Or perhaps, the concept of settling down won't be the same.

Tomorrow is the last day with a sunrise on the civilized side of 7am.