I love you. Summer is Autumn in New York.

 Today is Summer's birthday. 

As birthdays and summer go, they bring great Joy to everyone everywhere.

I had the precious joy of assembling a goodie bag of sorts, with a little help from my friends at the florist and work creating little bundles of delight.

Then the joy of discovery, after delivery of the unique combinations, that she's safely back at the big apple. Pursuing her heart's desire once again.

 

It seems like only a short while ago that I left the girl then perched atop Columbus Circle at The Mandarin Oriental overlooking Central Park in New York city. She had settled into dance school to begin her journey into music and drama at AMDA. That was six years ago. 

It must have been a fabulous journey seeing where she is now. Back to doing what she loves doing most- Musical Theatre and Dance.

There is great joy revelling in that thought today. 

Here's wishing you A Happy Birthday and Bon Voyage on yet another great adventure.

Just remember this; "Our ceiling is your floor" ~ Daughter (Venus-Sleeping at last)

And as you spread your joy, May you find Joy in everything you do.

I love you. Cooped Up & Comfortable.

Of Lush Rut and Rainbows

Photo by Sophie Louisnard on Unsplash

"Lush Rut", a good friend introduced this term to me. He used it to describe a situation whereby a person is so comfortable staying home that she refuses to step out of their abode during the MCO. 

Reflecting on this, perhaps the term to describe my own self incarceration, which actually comes pretty close to lush rut is 'cooped up and comfortable'. Too comfortable at times.

I figure it's time to venture beyond the market places and eating places to get back to nature.

So at the end of the last day of the week, after the thunderstorm has receded, I don my walkies and take big strides up and down the tree-lined avenues of the premises. 

I taste the raindrops as I saunter westward admiring the red prawn sky, coloured by the setting sun. I notice the lilac coloured blooms of the Jacarandas are starting to litter the road.

Round the corner, up the slope heading east, I leave the sun-crumpled sky behind me.

As I ascend the gentle slope, I hear a child's incessant cry, like a town crier in the days of old; "Everybody look, there's a rainbow here" " Everybody look, there's a rainbow here" pointing eastwards. 

I look up and there it was, a majestic rainbow that has formed almost completely arching the eastern high-rise dotted skyline of the suburb. Then I look in the direction of the 'town crier' and I see a little boy's head just barely clearing the balcony sill. His brown face and mop of hair revealed an innocent lad of no more than 4 or 5 years young, smiling back at me.

I cried back; "Thank you for showing me such a beautiful sight. If not for you I would have missed this wonderful rainbow" He smile and turned to look at his mother who was sitting next to him. The equally brown skinned, young mother amplified my gratitude to her son. We all smiled, I waved them a fond goodbye and continued up the slope admiring the clarity of the huge multi-coloured arch that was especially large that other residents stopped to pose for selfies down on the main road.

The rays of the setting sun had brilliantly captured the last sprays of rainfall at the end of the thunderstorm, to form a picture perfect rainbow even a child can appreciate and shout about. 

I proceeded with my saunter as the evening turns to twilight like a thick carpet of indigo descending upon the tree-lined landscape. The warm lighting in the windows and doorways frame golden patches against the bluish darkness. Hence the golden hour, the time that home and family beckon at day's end, the return to loved ones after work. 

I walk another lap round the U-shaped circuit to wander in the twilight settings, watching the remaining patch of light in the far horizon fade to blue as the lone magpie sings her final song before flying home to her nest. And I see the usual runners and walkers still rounding the circuit in their individual quest for health or space. Then I wonder what happened to the others? Do they not yearn for space or freedom from their cramped spaces especially if family is abound? Do they suffer in silence or are they in constant conflict in cramped spaces? I certainly hope not, judging from only the handful who roam our spacious grounds, the rest are perhaps happy in a 'lush rut'.

 I think to myself, as I head home to my coop to roost on a single ticket. How different would it be, if during the MCO I had family to share a home with not only at day's end but all day and night?

Good night.