Why I Need to Keep My Camera in My Purse...

Beauty's burden;
or is it,
Burden's beauty?
The weight of white snow
on the boughs of the pine.
Ever green,
ever standing.
In spite of the icy winter, she blazes chlorophylloid contrast
Her cold  arms outstretched, and fingers too,
draped with fiery diamonds.

I'm glad I took a detour this morning.
It reminds me, beauty is as beauty does.


On the way to school this morning, Jack must have read a billboard advertising the fountain of youth in some form or other because he suddenly blurted out, "Get rid of wrinkles!  Who would want to get rid of wrinkles?  Would you, Mom?"

[I paused--I had to ask myself the question first and I was determined to be honest about my answer.]

With a conviction that surprised me, I said, "Nope.  I've worked too hard for the ones I've got." 

And then I blew kisses and waved them off to school.   From there, I purposely missed my exit and instead drove up and through the canyons.  Three canyons, this morning.  I was drawn in and over narrow roads with aged boughs and broken branches that arched over me like an endless threshold, welcoming me to some magical place.  It's funny how you're there, but never reaching a destination.  Everyday life tricks me into thinking that there is a beginning and end to things.  A start and end to a day, a week, a project.  Looking at the sun shine down on a smooth, untouched ravine of snow,  I remember we are at this moment moving closer to spring.  It is all one eternal round.

I thought I was sick and tired of winter and officially declared it just a few days before.   But this morning's drive helped to change my mind about that.  And helped me cement the answer I gave Jack this morning about my wrinkles.  Beauty is, as beauty does.  So if I'm bound (and lucky enough) to live in a season where I droop and stiffen, my head covered in white, I hope I will bear it well -like those trees.  Owning the season completely, not shirking from what is. And I hope to reflect the sun in my own way.  

Heck, why wait 'til then?  Today is a good day for sunshine.  And it is the only day I know I have.