Magical Sunset at the Vernal Equinox – Photo: L. Weikel
Vernal Equinox
Given that today was the Vernal Equinox, I guess it only stands to reason that it was a quintessentially typical ‘Spring day.’ What I mean is that the energy of the day as reflected in the weather was warm, sunny, blustery, cool, bright, sunny, dark and weighed down by slate gray billowing clouds.
By the time I finally finished the spectacular distance retreat I’d attended all weekend and got dinner started, the dogs were dancing around the kitchen with their legs crossed. They desperately needed a walk. Yes, I’d let them out at the breaks and played with them sporadically throughout the afternoon, but they’d saved their business for their daily walk and it was time to go.
There was something to this that made my heart flutter – Photo: L. Weikel
Reluctance
I looked out our kitchen door and could see ominous billows of dark gray clouds piling up in the distance. A couple of times I was lucky enough to snag a sighting of some breakthrough rays of sunshine beaming onto the Earth like searchlights from Mars. But then those holes would quickly disappear behind some quick maneuvering of cloud cover.
Given the cloud situation and the pall of darkness they cast over the early evening, I was reluctant to even ‘do a stop sign.’ ‘Doing a stop sign’ is the shortest distance Karl and I will usually walk if we’re extra tired or if choppy weather threatens to ‘rain’ down on us at any moment. It was bleak. It was obvious that even the pups weren’t sure whether we’d make it out tonight.
Luckily, we persevered. We put dinner on hold, hooked up our harnesses, and set off. And when I say ‘luckily’ we persevered, I mean the artistry we encountered on our walk was such a blessing to my soul that I can only call it fantastic good fortune that we took our walk at precisely that moment.
Widen the perspective and soften your gaze and a Raccoon’s face is the Watcher – Photo: L. Weikel
A Work of Art
There’s no way I could’ve predicted we’d see any color in the sky when we left the house. As I mentioned, the clouds were dark and threatening, and approaching quickly. But when we rounded the corner and I turned to glance over my shoulder, my breath caught in my throat.
Those of you who’ve been reading my posts for any length of time know that I’m hardly a sunset newbie. Which is why the way tonight’s sunset pierced my heart and transported me to a place of numinous wonder took me by surprise. I don’t know if it was the unique hue or tone or the way the color seemed to emanate and at the same time reflect itself. It transported me. And somehow I felt a connection to something bigger.
And if the pups hadn’t needed a quick constitutional, I would’ve missed it completely.
Which does make me wonder what other wonders await a simple decision on my part to be seen and appreciated.
(T+103)