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Sunday Morning (5)
Temperatures are soaring while we prepare for Easter. Never before it was this hot so early in the year with the thermometer reaching to 79F. Although my energy level is unstable lately and not particularly high today despite upping my antibiotics recently, we decide to take the car and drive to a small lake nearby. It is a great opportunity to have a stroll together and the little dog Buddha is excited to be in the car again. We are also excited, because it is the first time since five weeks for Debbie to walk outside, after her bad fall in February that injured her left hip and arm. Fortunately, healing seems to be successful so far and much of the pain has gone, leaving some persistent stiffness, but we take it easy, don’t force anything and believe in soft movement to cure this. Walking in the sun for two miles should be a feasible target for the both of us.
The lake is not formed naturally, but the remainder of a gravel extraction long ago. Since then, a beautiful natural surrounding has formed with abundant water life and vegetation. It is not a very well known place, so the three of us are the only ones to stroll around the water.
The experience is overwhelming. There is a soft warm wind and strong yellow sun against a sapphire blue sky. A cacophony of wildlife sounds finds our ears. Ducks, moorhens, grebes and even a swan are cruising the water surface, playing the music that belongs to the early spring and all the excitement that goes along. Trees and shrubs are showing the first signs of blossom, and the subtle scents of the new season announce fresh life everywhere. Fallen trees along the shore present the distinct gnawing of beavers.
While we slowly proceed our pradakshina* along the path, our Buddha has all kinds of adventures of her own. Playing along with everything she finds on the ground, from branches to acorns, rolling in the grass the get her favorite scent, marking the most interesting spots with a drop of imaginary pee. We delight in looking at this little play of hers. Suddenly she freezes. When we follow her stare, we see the object of her attention: a large blue heron has taken position in the water, close to the shore, no doubt hoping to spear a frog or fish after a hungry winter. The bird has also spotted the dog, and they stare each other down for seconds, evaluating their opponents. Then, without fear, Buddha proceeds in a straight line to the heron, until he leaves his position and takes to the air, only to find another spot a few yards further. The dog again does her careful charge, and this process repeats twice. Finally the bird ends the play by flying up high and far, sounding an exasperated scream. With a proud wiggle of her tail Buddha returns to us and seems very satisfied having accomplished this heroic task of expelling the dragon and protecting our little pack.
Coming home, all we need is a glass of fresh water. Nature has filled our hearts and minds with her energy, but the body also has its demands. Lately, as part of Debbie’s rehabilitation, we have introduced an extra siesta (which also suits my body very well), and so we gladly lie down on the bed for a short rest, turning gravity into the more relaxing horizontal component for a while. What a glorious day this is so far.
Paul
* Sanskrit for a walk around a sacred place or object, to imbibe its energy.
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