Nature's Way
August
3, 2009
The peaceful, rhythmic noise awakes
me. I think it is the sound of my
ceiling fan but realize it is something else.
It is rain! I close my eyes for a
few moments as the rain plays its soft, pleasant tune. I go to my back porch to just stand there to
savor the feeling it gives me. The
singing of frequent rain sometimes suggests mournful music.
I love a morning that seems to
promise a full day of steady, beautiful rain.
It means I have no outside responsibilities. I can wrap myself in anything I want to
do. It beckons a day of reading and
catching up with myself. I might sort
the miscellaneous pile of papers by my computer just waiting for
organization. I can open my closet door
and just stare inside for a few minutes.
Maybe I can sort my jewelry or start a Goodwill bag. Maybe I can place my pictures into separate
piles for my children. I always stall at
a box of my mother's old black and white pictures and lament the fact that
there is no one here any longer to identify who some of these strangers
are. Maybe I can study them longer and
find a resemblance to someone in my family.
Recently, I received a forward on my
email called "Rain." It
started with a view of about 60 people placed in rows on a stage. There was silence. Then the conductor waved to a small group as
they raised their arms and softly clicked their fingers to the sound of
starting rain. Slowly, he led them all
to a heavier rain as more fingers clicked.
This went on for about a minute-the sound of rain from the heavens,
nature watering the earth. Then
spotlights flashed on and off as the clickers jumped on their bleachers,
producing the sound of thunder to the occasional "lightening." As the lights stopped the clicking gradually
eased and slowed to soft calming end. I
played it again with my eyes closed and felt embraced by the illusory perfect
rainfall. Editor's Note. The group is called Perpetuum Jazzile,
singing Africa. Great performance.
Now back to my morning. Nature has started my day. I will happily allow the remaining hours to
let things just happen.
Joanne Murray is my cousin. She sent me a book her son made
for her 75th Birthday. It contained essays that Joanne had written.
In the interest of bias, I am definitely biased so let's get that out of the
way. But once you and I get passed my bias you come to realize as I have
that these essays are something very special especially to her family and THAT
IS THE POINT. As I read them the one of many thoughts that crept into my
mind was "why haven't I been doing this?" Why indeed!
These are thoughts of a daughter, a granddaughter, a mother, a wife, a cousin
(like in my case), an aunt etc. Most who will read these essays have that
in common with Joanne. There are people you know who might enjoy knowing
what you think and what experiences you have been exposed to. Wouldn't it
be nice if you let them know by writing them down as my cousin Joanne has
done. It's never too late to get started. I will be posting them
here about one a week and do so with Joanne's permission. Hope you keep
coming back. Leave your comments below. Jim
"Gymbeaux" Brown
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