September Morning Clouds, Mars, PA
puffy,
cottony,
drifting clouds
truly clamour for my attention.
Without them,
the sky it quite plain,
flat,
usual,
and really rather ordinary.
But when the clouds decorate the sky,
the world is fancy,
it’s round and full and fluffy,
it’s different and unique and unusual
it’s EXTRAordinary.
So go ahead,
get your head up in the clouds.
It’s not a bad place to be
after all.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
My son snagged this amazing shot with his iPhone down the lane to our home one evening this week when the clouds were rolling in.
I love the beauty of the lush green “life,” the bright blue sky of “hope,” and the looming “sadness’ in the darkness under the puffy white clouds.
It reminded me of a dear friend who has been on my mind constantly lately who is going through a difficult period while she tends to her parents’ needs at her father’s journey at end of life.
It made me think of life and hope and sadness and how we all deal with all of it every day – – often every moment of the day.
The lyrics of one of my all-time favorite songs came to mind, and I want to share them here for my sweet friend, Bub:
If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep you head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you’ll hear me knocking at you doorYou just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again
May we all find cherished moments of life and hope in times of darkness and sadness.
And may we all find comfort in friendship to get us through.
We may not be close enough in geographic proximity to literally always show up and knock on the door, but we can reach out in so many other ways to be there for each other.
Be life and hope in someone’s darkness today.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Cloudy with thoughts of…
cottony comfort
feathery fluffiness,
delicate dreams.
Cloudy with the opportunity to…
embrace the breeze,
find comfort in the shadow,
feel the freedom to fly.
Cloudy with a chance of…
clear thoughts,
a bright future,
a sunny attitude.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
One day last week
when it seemed to rain all day
the sky cleared up just enough
right before dusk
for Charlie and I to walk to the mailbox
at the end of the driveway
for a bit of a stretch
and the chance to deeply inhale
the damp, crisp, clean air.
When we turned around
to head back home
my jaw dropped open
and a gasp escaped
when this was the sight
that awaited our return.
Pink clouds and puddles
shimmering in the day’s last light.
No white Christmas,
but what is wrong with PINK?!
Cherish the moments of now.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
November Clouds – McKinney Home, Mars, PA
After posting my November Clouds photo and post yesterday, a very dear friend sent me this YouTube video early in the morning saying it was a “cloud song to go with my pic.”
Well, I got busy working and didn’t have a chance to listen to it until Charlie and I went for our lunch time walk.
The air was a bit cooler than it has been the past few days, but 55 degrees F is still pretty lovely for late November here in Mars.
So with my iPhone in hand and Charlie leading the way down our usual path, I hit “play.”
I then hit “play” five more times while we walked a few miles.
I had forgotten how much I love this song.
Or did I just realize how much I love this song?
Joni Mitchell wrote “Both Sides Now” in 1967 (I was only 4-5 years old), and recorded it in 1969 on her second album entitled, “Clouds.”
Needless to say, I was a bit young to truly appreciate it at that time. It is, however, #171 in Rolling Stone’s Top 500 greatest songs of all time.
So I listened to the words yesterday – – – over and over – – – and I found such deep meaning, such contentment, such freedom and liberation …
Next month, I will turn 53. Still hard to believe, but I also realize I am on the “other side” of life.
I am obviously past “middle age” as I surely don’t expect to see 106!
And it has taken me a while to believe and “accept” this “stage” of life – this “over 50” stage… But somehow, somewhere, at some point, it all became clear. It all became fine. It all became great!
It all became real and wonderful and the best time of life.
I’ve had my teens and twenties and thirties and every wonderful and not-so-wonderful thing that comes with each of those stages. When 50 came, I mourned it a bit.
I can’t pinpoint exactly when or why or how it happened, but I became content – even happy – maybe happier than ever – with this phase of life.
I’ve seen life and love and even clouds – from both sides now.
And life is clearer.
Life has more meaning.
Life is sweeter.
Clouds are “bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air.”
They have also “blocked the sun and rained and snowed on everyone.”
But – “I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now, from up and down, and still somehow it’s cloud illusions I recall. I really don’t know clouds at all.”
And I LOVE that!
I’ve also seen love and life from “both sides now.”
From “give and take”
From “win and lose”
And maybe I don’t have all of the answers….
But I realize that even though “something’s lost…”
there is still….
“something gained in living every day.”
And I am cherishing every single one…
from this side now.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Hmmmmmm……
PS Thank you, Dick! ❤
“A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed.
It feels an impulsion…
this is the place to go now.
But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds,
and you will know, too,
when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond the horizons.”
– Richard Bach – Illusions
(This photo was taken late yesterday afternoon from my work office, which sits on one of the highest spots in Mars, PA. It was close to 70 degrees F again yesterday, which is so crazy unseasonably warm for November. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the blue sky and the puffy clouds and felt so inspired and overwhelmed and empowered by the beauty!)
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Enjoying a week away, but wanted to share this beautiful sunset.
Warm and relaxing cheers and hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 