#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream
. . . When the wind
asks, Have you prayed?
I know it’s only me
reminding myselfa flower is one station between
earth’s wish and earth’s rapture, and blood
was fire, salt, and breath long before
it quickened any wand or branch, any limb
that woke speaking. . .
~ Excerpt from “Have You Prayed?” by Li-Young Li
The most amazing thing happened: Vernal Equinox. Somehow, Frank and I were both wide awake and restless at 4:00 a.m. We made coffee, and he said, “Want to go for a ride?”
“Yes.” We were dressed and out of the house in five minutes. In an hour, less perhaps, and before the sun had risen, we had driven to Newport, Rhode Island, and parked at the cliff walk, one of our favorite places. It was dark, and we were the only ones there that early. We had not stopped talking since we left home. And we kept walking and talking into the sun rising on the most exquisite beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. This place has history for us: I walked here, one November in 1986 when we were dating and I realized, as I walked along the cliffwalk by myself, that we would be getting married. And I laughed, and walked, and laughed, and walked, and laughed and scared the hell out everyone with my happiness. We needed this. We sat on some cold boulders by the tide pool, smelled the sea, and watched the sun rise over the horizon into spring. Out of the pandemic, and into the light of a new season. How heartening it was, to have this incredible scenery. And it was cold, but there was no wind, no chill, a great calm over all. We were so glad we came. Coffee, after our walk, and a cheerful, if sleepy, ride home. Refreshed. Rejuvenated. Renewed. Reader, I wish you a wonderful spring of renewal and new beginnings as well. Thanks for being here and listening through my winter walks in the wetlands and along the river.
