Breathing

On election day, I stood in line at the polling center with a woman who was close to a nervous breakdown. She was so agitated about the vote. She poured out her anxieties after brazenly asking if I was voting for the new savior. She hugged me after she voted. There was a general feeling that we could all exhale finally in the days after the election. Those who were talking about moving to Canada if Obama did not win, were ecstatic, floating on a cloud of optimism and renewed hope. Even two weeks post-election, when I went jogging in Prospect park, the beautiful fall colors could not have been the only reason I saw smiles and good will on the faces of every person I passed. . . . There has been further cause for abated breath in recent weeks as we face economic realities that represent greater obstacles than most of us thought possible. Nevertheless, we continue to go through our daily patterns while watching +400 points and -400 points corresponding to the rotation of the earth on its axis—if nothing else. Let us continue to breathe . . . in and out, with presence. If you would take a break from your daily habits, and like to see some more fall colors, visit Autumn in the Park.

Agua Caliente

Having heard no protests, I present a most unusual view of the desert. On the northeastern edge of the Tucson valley is the natural springs called Agua Caliente. In my years growing up in Tucson and then while in graduate school at the U of A, I had not been aware of this fount. I found out about it from KL's Sonoran Blog. So I visited it myself.

To see a SlideShow of images from Agua Caliente, click Here.

We are governed by our associations. For someone growing up in the New York area this juxtaposition of natural flowing water, water fowl and lakes(!) with desert and rocky mountains may seem to just fit their imagination. But for someone who knows the dryness of the desert, the hardness of caliche, this is unexpected and thus more wondrous.

What is an NYC perspective?

So we have words and images originating in Brooklyn, or New York City in general. But perhaps an NYC perspective includes how a New Yorker sees other parts of the world.

Credit goes to KL as the inspiration for my blog. Her Sonoran journal is much more focused (so to speak) than mine has been. And her observations of the (mainly fowl) fauna of the desert southwest are educational while being anecdotally inspiring.

On my annual pilgrimage to Arizona I took some pictures. Might these qualify as NYC Perspectives?

NYC Perspectives: The Center of Being

NYC Perspectives: The Center of Being

For blossoms of a different ilk, check out KL's Sonoran Nature Journal

The Center of Being

What amazes me about the Ipomoea purpurea (Morning Glory), is that provided with the ability to look closely into the core of the blossom, I feel I am looking into the source of life. There is a mystery there. Especially with the purple blossoms, the closer in one gets the less one comprehends. Is this just me? Check out the slideshow. I like the reverse purple, the one which is mainly white with faint purple stripes.

As the bee takes the essence of a flower and flies way without harming its blossom, color or fragrance, so let the sage wander in this life. ~from the Dhammapada.

Worlds in a Drop

Just after a heavy rain the air feels fresh and clean. One walks about watchful of puddles, but so often I am unaware of how all the living flora holds the water. Last Saturday I got a close-up view of worlds in a drop of water.

8th Avenue Redux (click on images to enlarge them)

After I saw the butterfly, I began trying to see with his eyes . . .

How do they keep their wits about them?


This one is really close to the meaning of life

8th Avenue Flora and Fauna

After a harrowing night at work, I almost didn't feel up to a scheduled rehearsal with my singing partner. But I went and it was very rewarding. Not only did I leave feeling much better and humming with harmonies, I began to see all the color of the world along 8th Avenue.

First up was a beautiful Danaus plexippus (monarch butterfly) in the same spot where I had got the image of the butterfly last year that appears in the title of this blog. I am pretty sure this is a male. Is he not handsome?

Gold in New Jersey

From the 15th floor of Hudson One at about 6:45 a.m. Lower Manhattan and New Jersey shimmer and dazzle.

Hark

Eloquence like this might be found elsewhere, but it is a signature of New York. So the challenge for all of you out there is to guess on what this appears.

young Beckett

This is from Dream of Fair to Middling Women, about half-way through. Early Beckett is sometimes more difficult than the later work, because it preceeds "the day I became aware of my stupidity." The multiple languages, obscure references and wordplay can be very hard to decipher. Here I was very excited when I was able to recognize the reference immediately. The bracketed text mimics Sonnet #116.

Hello All

These days of late August have been beautiful in New York. Jogging in the Park, visiting the farmers' market, preparing the fresh fruits and vegetables there purchased occupy my days. The nights follow the adventures of the Mets. Then at work, after completing whatever assignments await me (and thanks to the miracle of online video), I have been following the Democratic Convention in Denver. Michelle Obama's heartwarming and charming sweetness, followed by Hillary's very powerful speech, followed by Bill Clinton's clear and enthusiastic message were all very inspiring. I was overwhelmed with admiration as Bill recommended that America needs "to lead by our powerful example, rather than examples of our power."

Tonight, I was able to see Senator Obama as he began his speech, and listen to the rest of it on the radio coming to work. He did not let us down. Clearly he has the vision that is needed, the wisdom to know it will not be easy, and the resolve to do whatever it takes to begin solving our many serious problems.

So tonight I begin this public journal. May the fruits of all of our work benefit all living beings.