Monday, April 09, 2007

Our walk together.

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see." - John Burroughs

I took you for a walk today. I know I haven't been blogging very much. Working in a museum means that when everyone else is off work, we work our behinds off. Easter is especially busy and this week the weather has been gorgeous so we've been filled to the brim and I have been too tired at the end of the day to do much more than eat dinner and sit on the couch.

Last night I decided that I needed to restore perspective, so this morning I walked to work. It's about an hour and forty-five minutes walking across fields and along cliffs. The first half is uphill, but it's worth it for the views (and the last half, which is downhill!!) I thought about you along the way. I wondered how you were and I whispered prayers for your health and happiness to the wind.

I left my house at 7:15. Being out that early in the morning always reminds me of my days working at summer camp. Mornings feel different when you spend most of your day outside and you have to walk along a leafy trail to have your breakfast. So I started my walk thinking of summers past. I sent love and happy thoughts to the women who have been my friends for more than half of my life. (And I wondered about Gerb - the one of them who is supposed to be having twins right about now!)

I passed through my village (the second photo) and enjoyed having the beach to myself. As I climbed the cliffs, it suddenly became cloudy and the world became slightly silver as the sun continued to rise. I sent love and blessings to my tribe and my dear blogging friends and web-partner. They are all going through such intense changes and growth. From so far away, all I can do to be supportive is to love them and hold them tightly in my heart.

As I climbed higher, more faces and names tumbled through my head. I was suddenly hit by a deep feeling of loneliness. I felt lost for a few minutes. Most of the people who I love are so far away from me here. There is a vast sea separating me from my support system and sometimes I feel it like an icy grip on my heart. As I turned to look in the direction of North America, I found myself not alone at all! Seeing these three faces looking at me quizzically made me laugh out loud. Even that sound didn't frighten them. They watched me like this until I was nearly out of sight.

In many places on the path there are remnants and layers of history. There are walls that tumble off of cliffs and pillars in the middle of nowhere. Everywhere you walk, someone else has been there before. It makes me think of my Dad. The last time he was here he was fascinated by all of this. I long to have he and my Mom here to show them around. They are coming in July and I am already excited about taking them everywhere. Now if I could just get my brother and his wife and my niece over here... suggestions?

As I came down the last stretch of the path, the sun came through the clouds. "Wedding Day" by Rosie Thomas was playing on my ipod, and this was the view I was blessed with. I felt replenished and refocused and centered again. I had been lonely, but never alone on my journey. You were all there. Thank you so much for coming with me. Did you notice?

Where did you walk today?

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Megg, You just brightened up my day! I wish that I was physically walking with you. I think of you often. Luv, Sue

Jamie said...

Thanks for that walk, Meg! I totally laughed with you at the quizzical sheep. And I enjoyed sharing your shifting mood with the shifting landscape. It's always a joy to connect with you.

Julie said...

Such beauty surrounding you as you walked..and the sheep! :D Thanks for taking the time to check in with us.

Colleen said...

Oh Meg! Your walk to work is so beautiful!!! Thanks to this internet world you're not that far away from all of us back home. Big hugs to you girl!!!!

M said...

This is beautiful! Thank you for taking us along with you. I miss England so much when I see pics like these.
We walked through arbustus trees, along the Pacific ocean this morning, the sun struggling to peak through. Not quite as picturesque, but still inspiring.

Deirdre said...

The scenery along your walk is absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing the pictures.

Unknown said...

Wow! What amazing land you are surrounded by. Thank you for sharing your walk with us.

Annie Jeffries said...

What a dream world you live in. Thank you for the lovely walk.

daisies said...

its not like any walk i've been on before, so beautiful ... thanks for bringing me along ;-)

Claudia said...

Thanks for the walk luv! Drop by my blog later today to share my walk to work.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely lovely. And that last photo...WOW.

Amber said...

Oh WOW! I am stunned by how BEAUTIFUL it is where you live! Lucky, lucky you. *sigh* It looks like peace to me.

Thank you fo rtaking me along.;)

:)

Colleen said...

Hey you,
Thought I'd let you know... I e-mailed back and forth with Gerb. She's 35 weeks now... ready to go anytime... she's planning on a lot of pink in her future... :o)

Rob Kistner said...

Thank you for the lovely walk Megg. It has inspired me to take a few similar walks here in Oregon this summer near where I live(Pacific Coast, Cascade mountains, Columbia River Gorge, etc.), and post them on my site. Imitation is the highest compliment, and my compliments to you on a wonderful post.

...Rob

madelyn said...

I love the walk "with you" through your
lovely photo's -
walks calm and bring perspective and
bring me in touch with inner silence...

love them...

Anonymous said...

Walking with you today was such a gift! Thank you for sharing your day with us, it certainly made mine a bit brighter.