Mornings

We have discovered in retirement that life gradually finds its own pace.

On this housesit, I have dog walking duties each morning. There are two choices - one that is not too hilly and one that is uphill for 20 minutes and downhill all the way back. I save the climb for later in the day.



We've been having some unsettled weather, presumably the onset of spring, and on one morning, I was greeted by a rainbow over the valley. It is always difficult or impossible to photograph the ends of the arc but on this occasion we have the left end of the rainbow well down in the valley ahead of me.

I find that while we arise reasonably early, but the time between getting vertical and awake is long. It takes a while to wake, have breakfast, bathe, form a plan and get out the door. In Spain this is a problem since everything (well, nearly everything) closes at 14:00 and re-opens at 18-19:00 for the siesta. This puts us out to enjoy the world just about lunch time and then everything closes.

Studies have been done with a person underground spending time alone underground and setting their own diurnal clock. This seems to be happening to us without going underground. One of the unexpected side effects of retirement is learning to "be" more and "do" less. We are becoming human beings and evolving away from human doers.

An unexpected side effect of this house sit is lots of sore muscles. the uneven ground, the hills, and the breakneck pace the dog sets have created legs.

I've also learned that a wood fire heats you more than twice. (1) Empty the ash from the fireplace and carry the bucket out to and dump it. (2) Haul in a load of kindling and mall bit of wood to get the fire started. (3) haul in another load of wood to keep it going. Notice how we haven't covered the chopping part at all (I don't need to do that here, thankfully). thus, in addition to sore legs there is also back and shoulders to complain about.

I leave you with a bit of beauty to start your day. Here is a recording of Glen Gould and Leonard Bernstein with a performance of Bach's Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D minor (BWV 1052).

I am stunned by Gould's approach to the piano itself. He sits in a chair, not on a piano bench. He begins with his legs crossed (!) and hunches over as if he were a scribe at his post. As do other pianists, he sings along with the music. At one point, uses his left hand to conduct his right. The shot of his right foot on the peal show a lightness of touch I've never seen before. His concentration is intense.

If I could greet each morning this way, I'd be bringing you so many so much better photos. Alas, my mornings are like a train that must start up hill right from the station...slow and deliberate. I hope this bit of beauty helps you start your morning.