Below, Above, Through

Seeing below and above and what lies between, like that odd space between sleeping and waking, not quite dreaming and not quite thinking, when a sliver of light parts the curtains, blown just a bit by a breeze, or the cat's shadow as she leans in to my face and for a moment I think she's something else, just a shadow.

Three Things about Walking with a Dog and a Cell Phone in the Rain

1.

Photobombing

2.

Windows

3.

Anticipation

Light and Shadow

The double pleasures of a clear blue sky and winter sun.

Why Get All Het Up?

In the grand scheme of things, a crowd at the local garage/service station is no big deal.

Especially when one window looks like this in afternoon sun.

I was ready to snap when

the lady coasted toward the handicap spot

(she's going to ruin my shot!)

paused

(I knew it!)

inched forward

(maybe . . . )

paused

(come on, lady! a little bit more!)

and finally pulled forward again before stopping

(yes!)

Thus ends another successful shopping trip at The Pig.

Is There Such a Thing Anyway?

"According to the Federal Trade Commission, 'Made in U.S.A.' means that 'all or virtually all' the product has been made in America. That is, all significant parts, processing and labor that go into the product must be of U.S. origin" (FTC).

I can't help wondering exactly what percentage of products are actually made in America (often claimed) instead of virtually.

In any case, this Bud's not for me.

Busted!

I
Waiting for a shopper to complete her payment at Register 3, I saw the Pig and the number 3 above the counter, opened the camera, focused, and got off three quick shots before I realized the checker had already scanned four of my items.

"Oops! Sorry," I said.

"It's all right, honey. I know how you like to take pictures," she said, ringing up my lettuce.

II
After wheeling my cart back to the cage, I noticed the SAS school bus, doors closed, revealing interior and exterior all at once. I walked toward the bus and took a few shots before the driver (whom I know) returned.

I apologized.

"No problem!"

"It's compulsive," I said.

He smiled, got in, and left the door open.

III
I took several more picture before slinking back to my car.

IV

Every trip to the Pig is an adventure.

Robley, the Spy

I
Artisan Depot

"Thank you for your service, sir, to this country."

Silence. The elderly veteran looked abased.

"Let's hope we make it great again."


II
St. Agnes' Church

Smudged windows, sheet music, organ, street vista, fall color.

III

When I walk, I enjoy seeing inside from the outside.

Cornered

In one block, this.

On the next, that.

Old buildings, old glass, one old problem still haunting us.

Fall in the Water

Seasonal Warnings

The Great Spreadwing and water know: fall is coming.

The Challenge of Walking Home

A visit to the garage, where I left my car in the capable hands of my mechanic and his youngest daughter, whom he is training. (He's a feminist! Who knew!)

Then a walk up the trail, ten minutes at most, but extended to 45. Not by intention, but because I was distracted by

• the Shenanigans window's carnival mirror reflection of Woody's Bicycles
• a male Diana butterfly, still considered rare but certainly present here in wooded areas, nectaring
• a large sulphur butterfly darting down the creekbed
• acrobatics of a Tiger Swallowtail balanced on the tip of a long weedy branch
• the Red-spotted Purple puddling in gravel at my feet
• prismatic argiope webs, one after another, catching a little light in heavy shade
• two hawking Black Saddlebagsin front of the Chapel of the Apostles, darting from lamp to steeple, high above my head and low below my knees
• glow of the newly restored dorm, all golden against azure sky

Good thing the car won't be ready till tomorrow. My eyes are sore.

What Startles

Settled comfortably in the study, we chose a Netflix children's film, turned off the lights, and started watching our British movie. A time-travel narrative during World War II on a beautiful estate with mysterious atmosphere.

One of them, on seeing the slow appearance of a ghost child in a movie, let out the longest-loudest-mostpiercing scream I had ever witnessed and the other covered her face leaving only the widest-open eyes I've ever seen visible.

Why was that scary? I asked when I could collect myself.

Ghost girls always frighten me, the 11-year-old answered.

Do you believe in ghosts?

I believe in reincarnation, he replied.

I don't, the 9-year-old said, and I wasn't scared.

Then why did you cover your face and unpeel your eyes so they looked like saucers? I asked.

Because his scream scared me, she said.

It gave me a headache, I said.

However, 15 minutes later, I started laughing so hard that my diaphragm constricted, and it really hurt, and I couldn't stop, and they started laughing too, and then we all laughed. Finally, we talked about Munch's scream, and all of us imitated it, and we kept laughing and laughing and laughing.

A little later, he and I walked into the kitchen.

When I saw this in the window above the sink, I started. He exclaimed, Wow! What is that? I didn't know, till I turned around and saw that I had left the light on in the little washing machine pantry. The window reflected the light leak. You should blog about that! he added.

And so I have.

Before My Eyes Were Dilated

I saw this.

Sometimes I am really really lucky.

Yup

Especially at my friend F's house, where a few of her deceased husband's tulips still bloom

and where conversations about things that matter happen in a room whose windows reflect their garden. 

On Day 2 with a New Camera

I decided to go to All Saints'.

Two hundred plus pictures later, I came home, happy, even though I couldn't do what a Facebook friend does with apparent ease: take one decent shot of a fully focused glass reflection and whatever's beyond it.

Notes to self: ask B how he does it, and keep trying.

Windows Are Like Poems

through the glass
the glass
reflection on the glass:
all of it
shimmering

Slating a Thirst

I
"The greatest of Sewanee's springs is Tremlett Spring, located near the heart of the campus in the ravine garden known as Abbo's Alley. Tremlett Spring was the central unifying feature of the early Domain landscape, as it was the major source of water which attracted people to Sewanee for thousands of years, including prehistoric Native American groups, an antebellum stagecoach inn, armies on both sides of the Civil War, and the founders of the University. As the water from Tremlett Spring runs through Abbo's Alley, it is joined by that of other smaller springs to create a sizable creek. Sewanee's oldest residences and University buildings are located along or nearby this line of springs and originally depended on them for fresh water." (from an untitled document found within the Society for College and University Planning website)

II
I too depend on that stream, for freshened spirit.

Odd Angles

Sometimes, When the Light

BY LISEL MUELLER

Sometimes, when the light strikes at odd angles

and pulls you back into childhood

 

and you are passing a crumbling mansion

completely hidden behind old willows

 

or an empty convent guarded by hemlocks

and giant firs standing hip to hip,

 

you know again that behind that wall,

under the uncut hair of the willows

 

something secret is going on,

so marvelous and dangerous

 

that if you crawled through and saw,

you would die, or be happy forever.