Grounding and Rest in Everyday Ramblings

This is a small watershed area where we went hiking (or at least attempted to hike) yesterday morning. We got to where we were planning on starting from and let Frida run around like a crazy dog in the grass and gravel parking lot of the botanical garden (the we couldn’t take her into) and headed off on our adventure to find very quickly that the foot bridge we were going to pass over the above creek on was gone and a new concrete bridge was being built to replace it.

There was absolutely no access.

This hike was an idea Mrs. Sherlock had because our typical easy (but scenic fauna wise) river loop is not available for two months as they are doing repairs and maintenance and having an excuse to move the homeless, drug addicted and or mentally ill population out over there.

Our ultimate goal was the cemetery where Mr. Finch’s grave is but we never made it there. We walked through a bunch of wide rural like residential streets, looking at all the whimsical touches folks put out in their yards or acreage. We found a beautiful old farm in a ravine that seems to still be somewhat operational.

Because of the bridge closure we had to walk partially on this busy noisy street with lots of truck traffic and an astonishing amount of vehicles, mostly trucks or vans, with people sleeping in them or using drugs parked up on the verge.

What kind of life is that? It made me sad.

The wildlife area was full of waterfowl though and we made a commitment to come back with binoculars. We are already filling my retirement days with ideas for birdy outings and maybe a drawing or watercolor class in there, both things we enjoy.

Other than the fact that she totally crashed out on the way home, you would never know Frida had been so sick. Her energy is strong and vital and so much fun.

It was a perfect way to spend a foggy day and let my cares drift a bit. I had gone to the gym first so got my cardio in but there was a fair amount of elevation out there too.

I decided yesterday that for the day I was only going to listen to Buddhist podcasts and watch yogic content. I did read a couple of political articles but tried to ground them in the teachings I had been immersing myself in.

The net result of this is that I am feeling much calmer and more grounded; a good place to putter around in and do chores as we all prepare her for a couple of weeks of intermittent ice.

Everyone here was hoping we could skate through the rest of winter with no snow or ice but no such luck. The snow in the higher elevations will be good but down here it is a mess. One of my students who came from Alaska says it is much worse in these warmer years there with the freezing, melting and ice so I do hold gratitude that it is usually just a few inconvenient days here.

One of the spiritual talks I heard was about dealing with anxiety and particularly not being able to sleep, or stay asleep. She read the last part of this poem by A.R. Ammons at the end. It is called The Watch

Now close your eyes
Sleep
Shut out the world from the dark sweet freshening
of your quiet hearts
Lie loose in the deep waters
Do not be afraid to
give yourselves up to drowning in undefended rest

If a dust storm blows up out of the west I will run
down the mountain and go through all the homes
and wake you up

If a new fire appears in the sky I will let you know
in time
so you can know it should it claim you

I will have all your beings in mind burning like a watch fire
and when the night has grown thin and weak
and the full coyotes have given up their calls

I will move up close to the eternal and
saying nine praises
commend you to it and to the coming sun