Oh, how much easier it would have been to get the view by road! Instead, a steady uphill slog of about a mile, with twists and turns and changing views. The pool of water in the distance is a reservoir, and it looks pretty good from here. Others in the area could be dried out in four years, and then what will we do for water? Even now, with rain in the forecast, California is still suffering from the effects of a long drought and poor water regulation. And climate change.
Last post was about finding the right word. That word is integrity. In art or life, it means an adherence to a principle; of being complete. My life for the past year has been lived in gasps. Returning to breathing means living to do things, to be, to become, to live, etc. . . . all those silly things which stop seeming silly once you realize they have slowly – or rapidly – vanished. I don’t want to take my life for granted, nor feel as if there are only three days a week in which to live – if existing can be called living – as the other four were all blacked out to simply go to work.
And so, integrity is beginning to return to my life. I’ve been doing, which for me is how I choose to live. I’m not quite like Descartes: I think, therefore I am. Me: I do, therefore I am.
Ok, so what’s been happening? This has been happening:
This morning, a hike, up and down steep hills, pausing to enjoy the lushness of a California spring – green hills, flowers, blue skies, butterflies, birds.
The pleasure of simply being alive is simply wonderful! In between, I have been going to work. 😉
This morning we went on a rather strenuous hike – up and down hills to get to an inland section of the Santa Monica Mountains. I am not a fast hiker – rather plodding actually – because of a long history and experience with falls and broken bones. Every step is conscientiously placed, especially where there is scree and loose rocks. The flowers along the way provided excuses to pause . . .
Having a phone camera can be rather nice . . . not always the best shot, but sometimes the most candid and discreetly taken. Everyone has a cell phone, and everyone has cameras in their phones (for the most part). In bad light, blur; in good light, glare. And in perfect conditions, sometimes it is nearly impossible to tell it was taken by a phone.
Once more, the miracles of espionage catch the unsuspecting, lurking beneath awnings or pretending to be photographers. The high-tech revolution guarantees that, yes, you will eventually be found . . .
Ink, Yarn & Beer 