Fog + Flight

 

Fog + Flight

Early morning fog and flight
Through darkness, in hidden sight
Of landscapes clouded, dewy sky
Envelopes all scenes, they pass by
Shrouded and still, still asleep
Tucked away softly in its keep
But I scatter the clouds from within
As my car zips through, leaving therein
No trace, just the dozy morning fog
Sleeping soundly upon lamp and log.

I recently took an early morning flight for a work trip, waking much earlier than I ever would, drinking a quick cup of coffee, and creeping with my suitcase downstairs to take to the road. Well before dawn was even peaking at the horizon, I was on my way to the airport,  accompanied by other early morning travelers and the surprise fog. The clouds were so low I was driving through them. It felt like another world, I couldn't help but smile at the misty cloud right above my head. Street lamps cast a mystical triangle glow forming shapes that are not usually there, right in the air around me.

Since I am not normally traveling to the airport at 5 am, though it was a very long day, I loved how the different time of day and the weather caused me to look at the world with fresh eyes, with wonder, and appreciation of the mysteriousness. I thought about how most people would never see the fog, it likely burned off as the sun came up. The fleeting nature of nature is something that causes me to pause and enjoy the ever-changing moment. The misty fog was just in that area for a few miles, then I drove out of it, out from under the mysterious canopy of ground cloud.

Hot Reads!

 

It's hot out there! Isn't it the perfect time of year to cosy up inside with a good book? Granted, I will say that about every season, but when the temperature is in the 90s and the feels like (with the humidity) is above 100 degrees, you just don't want to be out there. If you need a few ideas, here are some books I've read recently, which may spark your curiosity.

The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien
A re-read for me. I feel I need to read The Lord of the Rings every couple years. The books speak different things into you each time you read them. This is the third book, the conclusion of the whole story, which really is one book. This is where the battles all come into fruition in the final risky scenario where everything stands on the edge of a knife. One stray move, and it all could crumble with evil reigning over all Middle-earth. Love and friendship is displayed in the deepest ways, humble serving, servant leadership, loyalty, eucatastrophe, and the defeat of evil.

Christian Reunion and Other Essays, C.S. Lewis
This is the only book that holds this essay "Christian Reunion", a rare essay written around 1944, but not published until this volume in 1990. It's a rare taste of Lewis discussing denominations and division in the church. He approaches the conflicts with such a thought provoking stance that doesn't alienate anyone, addressing it in a way that leaves you feeling hope for unity, not any negative feeling toward the other religious view. This is a great example of why Lewis is so cherished, though he tried to stay away from commentaries like this. Having this example is a treasure, and a very useful element of discovery for me in my new book I am working on (stay tuned!).

Lessons in Crime: Academic Mysteries, Martin Edwards (editor)
A collection of short stories, mostly fun with a little bit of gruesome, from the golden age of crime into the modern time, that circles around the world of academia. Loved having a short story by Dorothy L. Sayers and Arthur Conan Doyle included. A lot of murders happen in Oxford academia in the mystery book world. Be careful if you enter academia in a mystery novel, things will be dangerous, and probably a bit fun too.

History of a Six Weeks' Tour, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley
The youthful 16-21 year olds Mary and Percy travel with another friend Claire around Europe after it opened up to travel after the Napoleonic Wars. They see the ravage the wars caused but also the beauty of nature around France, Switzerland, Germany, and Holland. Through a shared journal and letters, we see their experiences surrounded by dramatic natural beauty, which influenced their writings. They go deep into mountains, venturing across lakes, and gazing at the waterfalls, gathering up their ideas and descriptions along the way. You can see the spark of what writings are to come from them, with Shelley's poetry, and Mary's Frankenstein. 

Life Time, Russell Foster
The importance of sleep we all know, but it's something too easy to neglect with our busy lives. This book studies how it affects our health and our mind (alertness and ability to focus). Reviewing how it's different across ages from infancy to elderly. It made me more diligent about going to bed earlier (which has been a goal of mine hence why I picked this up to read) and also waking up around the same time, and also not eating late. Simple changes that require a bit of diligence, but well worth it.

Celebrating with Fireworks

 

I don't see fireworks too often, but when they are right outside my window, I pull up a chair and enjoy the show. A fireworks show always draws crowds, even for a short 15 minute show. Why are fireworks used for celebrations? Do you ever wonder? 

John Adams wrote to his wife in July 1776 that “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival…It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

The first organized celebration of Independence Day was July 4, 1777 in Philadelphia. This is also when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. That evening there was a special dinner held, 13 canons fired (for the 13 colonies), streamers, band performance, and military demonstration. The evening ended with fireworks. Boston was the first city to declare July 4 as a holiday in 1783. Congress made July 4 an official holiday in 1870. Eventually cannons were phased out (a bit dangerous) and fireworks became more readily available and used for the celebrations.

Perhaps the way that fireworks showcase a sense of awe and spectacle among people, usually accompanying some kind of celebration or gathering that we can all partake in together. It promotes a sense of unity when (especially in times of division) we can all enjoy a show of exciting blasts of exploding colors in the velvet sky, appreciating and celebrating the country we are blessed to live in. Whatever the views of each person, a thankfulness should fill each one for the freedoms and liberties that have been fought for (defended) by our own fellow citizens in difficult ways and across time. We would not be enjoying the freedoms we live now if not for many people who have sacrificed their lives for the country, and that's an ongoing thing. We should not take that for granted, but instead pray for the nation we are part of. May it uphold the values upon which it was founded.