— The Shadow Guards —

Just beyond the plate glass…

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It was a normal sunny morning when I went to the large plate window. Looking out over Nashville as the morning sun creeps up the sky, I could not let the crawling shadows go unnoticed. I watched them first small and short just below the signs; then stretching long like other worldly alien fingers reaching from the point of contact with the ground to some unmarked distance relative to the sun's location. I notice how much darker the negative shapes are on the grass as if there were no grass as the shadows grew longer. 

Parking lots and cars have their shadows too; but much less dramatic. Even in the darkness of the shadows, the breeze moves the young grass making the shadows sway. Each observation spawns another thought, disjointed from logic but connected all the same. Why are the shadows different on the pavement than the grass? Does the grass attempt to hide some part of its sight from the brilliant radiance? How do the shadows change the color of whatever it touches but leave it the same? I watch the little grackles jump and bounce in the grass changing colors as they pass from light to shadow, carelessly eating worms or bugs beyond my vision. Here we all are, nestled between the stone monuments of cityscape architecture but the most fascinating things are still the things that were here before man, before his trash, in spite of his intrusions.

The shadows stand and never tire. The reach and never strain. Tall or short, moving or still; they are always the same, absent but present. Maybe they are like the clouds – looking solid but planes fly through them, vaporous and mystical.

Friday Flickerings and Fridaku Fascinations

© ScienceDaily

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What a great week of exploration emotionally and professionally. The weather has been fantastic and very agreeable to getting outside and trapesing around. The hint of Spring looms dauntingly just above our bulging to-do-lists and a long-courted love affair with Home Depot, Lowes and HGTV. The renewal of Spring brings many opportunities for collective enrichment and family gatherings. What a great time of the year.

Despite being slammed at work; I have managed to learn some new InDesign and Photoshop tricks! Its obvious to me that I am happiest exploring and learning new things. Luckily I have an environment that allows such freedoms and liberties. Despite self-inflicted prisons, the freedoms just beyond my reach or cadence are beautiful to marvel. Its ok if I dont get there today and far better that I remember to never completely yield to the idea that never is also possible. Armed with hot coffee, great chocolate snacks and wide-eyed defiance, I embrace the coming of the weekend.

As one ages, it is always noted of the things that were that arent now. St. Patty's Day marks the passing of a well-missed friend and fan, Alfred; my wife's father. Such times are awkward — do you point out the elephant in the room or just ignore him, hoping he walks quitely beyond? Nonetheless, I treasure memories. It lies there in the pages of memories of past moments where infinity is bookmarked if only for a finite moment as the generations trod onward into future chapters. We sat out back once in the setting sun as I remarked about the shadows cast by the dying day. He responded with a chuckle and noted that the reason we are all different is that there are too many things for one person to see or think about. In a society obsessed with youth; will we sacrifice the wisdom of age in the process? Will we discard the elderly for our vain ambitions? or discount them like some last year's Christmas toy left to hope for purchase at some Fred's or Dollar General or yardsale as someone else's problem?


A great weekend lies ahead. If we lift our eyes and our hearts, we will encounter someone needing our smiles and encouragements just centered in our paths. Hopefully we will neither be too busy or self absorbed to pass along such a glittering treasure. The cohort, Andy has been faithfully banging out his photoblogs and haikus much to my pleasure. It really is the people around us that hold us up from sinking in the mire of self/vanity. Sharing laughter and never taking ouselves too seriously might just be a saving grace.



©Andrew Stanfield

Wooden Guardsmen

Sentinal looming,
Tall, old and mighty—guarding;
Fallen soldiers' rest.

©hamedical

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Orange Warm Hunger

Orange, warm glowing,
Making bronze damp skin glisten;
Hungry for more flesh.

Afterhours Musings!

Lofty Observations
the cars come and go
beneath my gaze from above
without permission.

Thoughts to Myself
the silence my kin
alone is my fortitude
solace my own peace.

Morning Dove T.A.P.S.
Morning dove watching
Peace surrounded by unrest
Mate dead on the ground.

Peanut Butter, Justice and the Universe

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Its been a good slow and easy weekend and some time since I last blogged. Time is important, that is to take a break and look back, to retrace the steps before and see the imprints left. It helps to readjust the flightplan or at least to be aware if it needs it. I saw several things of interest including a History Channel special on methane gas rising from below the sea causing global warming, DATELINE: Raw, a behind the scenes of To Catch a Predator series, NEXT, a Nicholas Cage movie about knowing the future, a CNBC special on a criminal in Nashville who is taking drugs to be found 'sane' so he can be executed and of course; accepting Thanksgiving at my house again. What do all these things have in common?

TIME! With enough of it, we ALWAYS reveal our true natures and intentions. Its not the time that does it but we who pass throught it. Its interesting to note; we as humans rarely change of our own volition. It takes some catastrophic event to break the gravitational pull of whatever we are immersed within. Ever notice how sitting in water constantly getting warmer or colder is far better than just jumping in all of a sudden. That blatent shock that makes us pucker north and south. They say, you can boil a frog alive by putting it in a pan of water and turning the temperature up slowly. I dont think such a thing is limited to frogs. I dont believe most people are born diviant; instead, it is turned up a little at a time until the reflection is only a monster to those looking at the fully cooked frog in the pan. The frog typically doesnt know or realize that its cooked.... (hmmm.... :D) [slight pause for a brief smile]

Anyway, in the pursuit of life, we encounter may things and many people; all the while learning more about ourselves and they of us. That's the generosity of TIME.... Things are proven more true or more false. Sometimes that comes as a polar bear dip to the one who tries to stand ignorantly by the side of the pool; feigning innocence to gain bliss to protect the guilty. [...hmmm....lawyers; now there's a blog waiting to happen....]

Peanut butter is a marvelous thing. Notice how it clings and adheres. Notice how tracks can be swirled through it smoothly with not so much effort. It is sweet to the taste and its aroma eagerly greets the passerby. Peanut butter is in no hurry. Too much of it still stays put. It doesnt matter how big or strong you are; the roof of your mouth is still before your throat. I have almost choked on too much peanut butter. I love my JIFF. Its the smoothest creamiest and best tasting to me...but the lack of oxygen is very motivating to put in just the right amount. Life is a lot like peanut butter. It spreads real easy if you dont opt for the chunky kind. Keep it in the jar and on the bread and its pretty easy to manage. Dont take anymore than yours and you can enjoy it without consequences.


The universe guarantees that justice is much the same. It regulates and redistributes at its will. Perhaps one could reason that Justice is the the crunchy form of peanut butter. Sooner or later; some nut will get in the way. You cant spread what isnt smooth...at least not as cosmeticly pleasing as we try to make everything. Plastic surgery is some interesting peanut butter too. [ok...thats another blog too....for not now...] Isnt peanut butter great; but what would it be without jelly? Grape, strawberry, or apple......ahhhhhh.... a PBJ hasnt changed for decades; but if it did, it wouldnt be a PBJ. Thats the justice of the universe.

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Flying Colors

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Lately I have been followed by dragonflies and recently monarch butterflies. Sometimes things mean something and other times, we just want them to. Aren't we always looking for ways to explain who, what, how, where and when the future is coming to us and by what means. That quest is as old as time.

As a student and mayor of Nerdville, I collected and studied these from a very young age. It is magic — this transformation from crawling to flying. Maybe that is what makes the series Heros so interesting to we nerds...the possibility that ordinary me could become extraordinary...that my presence might have a significance beyond time and measure. Yada yada yada...ok...nevermind.

So this is a few things I found out about butterflies.
Butterfly/Caterpillar's Wisdom Includes:
* The power of the whirlwind
* Reincarnation
* Transformation
* Transmutation
* Magick

Others believe other things.

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