Fall into Winter
Serendipitous Serenity
Wednesday
There is a serenity I’ve missed since the end of August.
I realized it Saturday when I felt like crap with sinus overflow but I went for a run anyway. I went for a run alone. While I was running I realized it was the first run I’d done alone since August. That’s too long. Running is my meditation. Running is actually where I do most of my writing. I just put it down at the computer later - but it’s mostly already done…
Wednesday I walked to school and then ran home. I added some beach. The same beach I’ve run every week with the cross country team since August. It’s not the same alone. I love the kids… the mini athletes… their energy… their chaos but I missed the serenity and was happy to find it alone on the beach… dodging waves and just running until I felt like turning around. Running and not worrying about what those wacky 5th graders were doing. Just running. It was dark when I got home.
Thursday - the next morning
(Edited with POP function in Google Photos)
The rain came. So many cute little umbrellas. One shy kinder girl had her clear plastic umbrella over her and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face. Umbrellas are fun if we let ourselves go…not think about it but just experience the sound, the pitter patter, the magical protection they provide as we stand dry in a massive shower. I love the pitter patter.
I remember being at home as a kid and going a bit stir crazy when it would rain for days on end. I’d sit in the chair in the front window and just watch. If it was a day when my parents were gone and the garage was empty I would go in the garage and open the big, flat metal door halfway so it was sticking out into the driveway. Thousands of raindrops would echo off its broad surface in a constant roar. I’d just sit in a patio chair and listen… and then I might throw some darts… or take apart my bike and put it back together… or make something else random… all just to stay there in the garage and see, hear, smell, feel the rain.
Sunday
Saturday night I slept on the floor with a skylight in the room. The pitter patter of raindrops all night led to one of the best nights of sleep I’ve had in a long time. Refreshing. The drive to hot yoga in the morning was wet and misty, freeway tires pulling rain up off the earth like reverse water wheels… always making it seem like it’s raining harder than it really is.
Fresh air follows as the streets almost dry and only the cracks are wet. Lines like wrinkled finger skin.
And the drive home after rain and clouds brought sunset colors demure that melted. Serene.
