February, 2024 - One Less Dog In The Hunt

With the roar of the rolling surf echoing in the background, an old man walked along the beach, his cane sinking into the sand with his footsteps. As his ancient eyes scanned the scene before him, the beige, wet landscape littered with rocks, pebbles, and seashells of different sizes, his eyes landed upon the glint of sunlight reflecting from a metallic object. He paused in his shuffle to reach down for the object, a tiny gold gear. Mere inches away, the surf revealed another, and then yet another, each glowing in the midday sun.

He held the small sprockets in his hand, wondering about their relevance, and the happenstance which had brought them to his attention. Having been a jeweler most of his life, the objects brought recognition to his mind. The winding wheel, the crown wheel, and the center wheel of a pocket watch lie in his wrinkled palm. While gazing at his hand, he saw another glint of sunlight upon the wet sand at his feet. Using his cane for balance, he bent his creaking knees to lift the small nub of a gold winding crown.

I stood at the kitchen sink not too long ago, staring as the water from the faucet filled up a pitcher of water. The light from the window glistened off of the moving liquid, sending sparkles of diamond beams as its shape changed. In that moment, that simple beauty of movement and light, I thought about the liquid filling the vessel; how vital it is to our very existence; how wonderful it looks in natural movement. In a world filled with chaos, there is order, natural law, and organization of which this simple liquid plays a major role in life on the big blue ball.

This may seem low brain activity to some, but in the world of convenience to which our society has become accustomed, we often overlook things which our ancestors struggled to obtain and which they treasured. There are places in the world where this life sustaining puzzle piece is scarce, impure, or unavailable. Though in the United States, we concern ourselves with the possibility it may be depleted, we are far and away from a time when our pioneer relatives had to carry it from a well or a stream into the cabin or soddie.

Month: February 2024

The Watch

Cool, Clear Water