A running theme has been to enjoy every moment, because it really is these moments that add up to something greater than their parts. Is there a quote about 'A string of moments adds up to a life well lived?' Something like that. I've been seeking the amazing in as many moments as I can.
Walking every day by the ocean is an absolute delight. I bang on all the time about how soothing I find the ocean, how much of a spiritual thing it is for me to be near it, so if you are tired of hearing that, move along. If you are still with me, please follow my instagram feed for several ocean images like this every week! The sea in all her many moods is the perfect allegory for seasons of the soul, and every time I share her salty breath it is like looking at her with fresh eyes. Are you wishing you moved along before that florid piece of hyperbole? Well, go and see the sea for yourself, they say that salt water is the cure for everything, and they are right!
In the holidays we visited Brisbane's Planetarium, and like a child who has watched too much South Park I cannot pronounce Planetarium with the t, even in my head. Plan-e-arium. Regardless, it was truly amazing. The theatre seats are arranged around the circle of the dome, and are angled back so that everyone has a perfect view when the large domed ceiling turns into a theatre screen. There was a stomach churning 3D animation of our solar system, that was both fun and educational, and the Astronomer that discussed the night sky afterwards had a passion for the stars that was contagious.
Monkey boy is a man of many talents. Here he is proud as punch that his self portrait was selected to be in the local agricultural show. He is also interested in becoming a magician, and recently shared his favourite magic trick with me.
Monkey boy holds two crayons, tan and blue. He hands me the blue crayon and says hold this. I hold it.
He places two fingers on my forehead and stares intently and seriously into my eyes for an extended moment, maybe 10 seconds. I try not to laugh.
Is it blue? He asks.
Not to be outdone, The Gentleman has amazing talents of his own. He is learning to cook (here we have pasta, tuna and corn salad) but I think his most amazing feat lately has been a massive growth spurt! Shirts I bought 2 months ago barely reach his waist, jeans that where bought in the same shopping spree wont button up, and most startling of all, he lost four teeth over the holidays! Four teeth in less than two weeks, and another two are wobbly! At $5 per tooth he is cleaning up, and I hope he uses this windfall to go and buy food, or at least new school shoes.
When I was growing up, we grew Chokos on the shed roof. We had the ordinary green ones, but also a coveted white variety. We ate them steamed with butter and black pepper, and years later I learnt to roast them, saute them with tomatoes, onions and zucchini; and use them in apple pies (like McD's, but far better). One terrible day our neighbour killed the root of the White Choko, and that was the end of that. There where no White Chokos to be found, apparently White Chokos are very rare, and many people had never heard of them. A lot of people even argued their existence, and said they must have been immature Green Chokos. Fools! I thought they where extinct, until I found them at the local agricultural show. Talk about amazing! I bought the last available one for $1, and hopefully it will grow happily in my garden. I told the lady who sold me the choko my saga, and how lots of people didn't believe they existed.
Well they do exist, she said. My Grandma had one growing on her chook shed!
I know they exist, I smiled, because I have one in my hand right now, you've just sold it to me!
It's all about living in the moment.
xx