Here we are

In the balmy arms of 2024.

They promise a snow storm this Sunday here — unless it is a rain storm. Well, come weather, come hither, we are powerless to undo what our history has done. We have the power to not repeat it. In not repeating it, we also can take the power to repair. In the morass of our reparable (I continue to hope we have not entered ir-), we can repent, which means, stop, look around, change what I do so not to repeat that which is so much better not repeated.

Today began with sun. I took it up. I meandered through this city to eventually reach our second river, the Concord, which flows into the mighty Merrimack. The Concord was pretty mighty itself today.

At this point the Concord splits around a small island, one which once housed something, undoubtedly industrial, but which now, in the manner of ancient pyramids, is pretty effectively disguised by good green, tree, shrub, pebble, and mycorrhizal growth. This water flow is the eastern side of that island.
Here we are further back, at the point of split. Closer to me is the section in the photograph above, further, the western half of the split. Close to me also, is the ubiquitous human dropped stuff.

As I walked, the sun was stupendous. As I walked, by the second hour’s close, the temperature had risen 10 degrees from the 31 degrees fahrenheit that it was at 10:00 am. And it is 43 degrees now. Uh oh. But my phone promises temperatures falling hereafter today. (Well, I guess that is the normal weather pattern anyway.)

Have you ever wondered why we spend so much time keeping busy? Are we made that way? I think of ants, of bees, their lives. How is it that we have modeled our lives, our priorities to busy? Is it so to acquire? Why? I think ants and bees are making a home, and feeding their colonies. Busy. Yes, but they don’t seem to need to increase the footprint of their home, or the glamor of their home; they don’t need to import exotic foodstuffs, they gather what is nearby and use it. Not us.

Why not?

Birds. Local materials for food and for home.

Birds, times four.
Humans

I just noticed, three of the four bird nest photos include trees that are being aggressed on by invasive bittersweet. Ah me. Our footprints are large and heavy.

So here we are in 2024.

May its surprises include repentance, attendance, grace, and forgiveness.

What good can we effect, will we do that never occurred to us to do before? And where? And how? What goodness can we receive that it never occurred to us that we could?

Can we believe in each other? Can we count on one another? We can. Will we? Why not? Why not?

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Author: Kate Hemenway

I like to explore, to observe. I like to be within what is around. There is always something to wonder about and to ponder. There is always something.. My favorite ways to get to places are bicycling and walking; or reading, or thinking, or asking. Please feel free to ask back, as I continue to wonder out loud, express joy or concern, or, sometimes, talk through my hat.

2 thoughts on “Here we are”

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    div dir=”ltr”>Hi Kate,

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    div>Happy New Year!

     

    Love your pictures and blogs. You always take such excellent pictures and I enjoy them.

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    div>I agree with this ‘busy’ thing which is so pervasive

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