"Hello, Geo."
"Eh?"
"Over here and up a little."
"You're a Privet leaf?"
"A Privet leaf and a raindrop. It sprinkled this morning!"
"I don't follow."
"Well, leaves convert sunlight into energy --it's how we live. Ordinarily we don't know what's going on around us but in just the right kind of sprinkle, we get a raindrop gathered and the whole world is refracted into our works."
"You see images?"
"We see all images, everything that transpires."
"Everything?"
"Only those activities that concern our observers. We leaves have no individual brains, you see."
"Ok, it's just finished summer here in California. What does it look like where summer persists?"
"Oh, you mean the seaside resorts of our planet! Lots of hot beaches: children at sandcastles, bathing beauties, families at pic-nics and old diseased colonels creeping around in the sun."
"And what of us, leaf, you and me?"
"The farther one walks toward the light, one's shadow grows up the wall --until past the light...well..."
"Then?"
"Geo., we get confused thinking about then."
"Sorry, my brain has a mind of its own."
"What does your brain tell you now?"
"That we rename Lady Liberty (Fr. Marianne) or Gaia and replace the National anthem with this: (Help me Rhonda--Beach Boys)
"So, which one do you mean, Geo.? Gaia or Marianne?"
"Any division of the two."
"Who fired you up to this, Geo.?"
"Just a treefrog sitting on a fountain spout."
"Geo., you've had a hard summer. Maybe you should go lie down now." "Okey Dokey!"
The privet leaf and the raindrop have very, very good advice. I think we should all go and lie down.
ReplyDeleteLove the Normaphotos. As always.
Thanks, EC, I do believe I shall.
DeleteSmart little leaf with raindrop. Gorgeous photo. Interesting concept there....the further into the light we walk the longer our shadow grows......I like that. I've had some folks in my life who left massive shadows. I hope you leave a big one too Geo, you've made a grand start at it.
ReplyDeleteIt's an enigma, Delores. I can start following my shadow west at any morning hour, and any speed, but always reach the head around noon.
DeleteLight, esp. sunlight, refracting through a drop left by a night shower. I wonder how our lives would refract, keeping in mind that light will 'bend' somewhat, depending on the density of the liquid. How would light, aka our lives, react when reduced to the different densities inherent in life? Can we look at our lives, that little drop of water, is one of the different refracted directions more valid than the other? Gaia, the whole, the basis of life seems the direction we are on, like it or not. It's worth pondering that one of the parent's of Gaia was Chaos (in some versions). Hope you're well, Geo. I'm going back under the knife early next month. Take care.
ReplyDeleteGeo.September 18, 2018 at 3:42 PM
DeleteI like the idea of Gaia as offspring of Chaos, Mike. In each closed system, there must be some degree of disorganization, else time --and worlds-- couldn't exist.
Best wishes for success next month. You take care too
Now there's a picture that's hard to get, with the raindrop juuuuust leaving the leaf! Well done, Norma.
ReplyDeletePlease don't go toward the light, Geo. I've heard that's not good for one's health. A lie down is good, though. I could use one myself. And some more Beach Boys music.
I relay all Normaphoto compliments to Norma. She says,"It's just a matter of standing still for a moment." And doesn't seem to realize she's done something exceptional.
DeleteNo intention of going toward the light. As an adult, I've always felt better at night.
P.S. My favorite Beach Boys song has always been "Sloop John B.". Yours?
DeleteIt probably sounds odd but the only BB songs I knew when they were in their heyday were the surfing ones, which I liked well enough. But about two years ago I happened across some YouTube documentaries on the making of "Pet Sounds" and was absolutely stunned by some of those tunes. Now I would say that my two (I can't choose just one) favourite BB tunes are "God Only Knows" and "Don't Talk." I keep meaning to do a post on them, in case there are other people out there who hadn't been aware of just how complex and hauntingly beautiful their later work was. They were enormously talented, especially Brian Wilson.
DeleteYou should, Jenny...I’ve never heard of either of those but will go look them up. Hello Geo. I like your conversations with your garden friends. I hope you are feeling better.
DeleteMaking progress, slow-going but healing. Thanks!
DeleteUsually I understand your meetings with the creatures and objects around you. This one has me puzzled.
ReplyDeleteHas me puzzled too, Emma. Been trying to get back outside more and am new at talking with leaves. Will get better as I get more coherent.
DeleteLie down if you must but "you just keep thinkin', Butch, that's what you're good at".
ReplyDeleteWill do my best, Bruce. Thinkin' is all that distinguishes us from the tremendous operations of the universe and I intend to keep doing it. You too, deal?
DeleteYou are a shinning light and it reflects on all who have the pleasure of knowing you, dear Geo. Rest, listen to the fun of The Beach Boys, and get better.
ReplyDeleteNorma is a wonderful photographer!
Yes and yes, dear Arleen. I intend to survive this.
DeleteLovely leaf drop and a happy fountain frog made even more summery with the sound that will alway invoke happy, sunny, California energy. Enjoyed that a lot. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI've found at this age naps are an essential-especially to keeping a sunny disposition.
Dear Tom, I have never had a sunny disposition but have come dangerously close to it while conversing with nature. Between naps, I plan to do that more often.
DeleteYou never can go wrong with Help Me, Rhonda and it's so much easier to sing. Now, I'll be singing it all day long. Thanks! But at 6am the rest of my household didn't appreciate The Beach Boys like I did. I got "Put your headphones on!" in unison!
ReplyDeleteOmigosh! 6 A.M.? I'm better off listening to the music of the spheres, but Beach Boys is a good 2nd choice!
DeleteGeo, your post reminded me of the first page of a book by a famous novelist by the name of Thomas Wolfe. My mind tends to think in such weird and obscure ways. I can't help myself.
DeleteI'm hoping that you, Jon, and my very odd self will somehow find true health and enjoyment in life. This is not always easy - but I have faith in rare miracles. Another insightful post I enjoyed reading every word of. I thank you 1001 times.
Dear Dylan, I sure hope your faith is justified. Thos. Wolfe did a lot of great work on a very tight schedule. My summer has been more difficult than most but I'm doing ok. Hope you are too. And thanks very much for your encouraging comment. As my sister, Minnie, often tells me, "Keep writing!"
DeleteI love your beautiful photo - and will soon on my blog answer with another photo, Geo - here I cannot.
ReplyDeleteWhen privet flowers, it has an unforgettable smell. Had a lot of privet hedges in Bremen, where I come from.
Thank you for your tips concerning my computer problem - with all your help (and not Rhonda's!) I am able to comment again. Thank you. Geo.!!
And thank you, Brigitta, for your kind comment. I relayed your favorable mention of the photo to Norma --she appreciates it. Also glad you were able to correct computer problem. I value your comments immensely.
DeleteQuite liking the idea of not having an individual brain, but only if I can be a leaf (or similar) it doesn't work too well for people. Raindrops are stunning things, I'm glad you have some to bring you some extra sparkle. I think my frog would love a fountain!
ReplyDeleteThe Beach Boys are instant summer, I'm sure if I could play that song I would immediately find myself in board shorts.
Best of wishes to you and Norma :-)
Dear Lisa, yesterday Norma took photos of a treefrog holding his arms on the basin edge and just dangling his legs in the water. Shall use photos in a subsequent post. I believe there is some primitive limbic connection in this pleasure between humans and treefrogs. We are making scientific progress here!
DeleteI love your dialogues and that first photo is nice.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
Thanks Sage. I hope your compassionate comments here have increased interest in your calling. I follow them by gmail and am always encouraged. I was raised Presbyterian and benefited by it. I encourage all my readers to copy and paste your excellent newsletter.
DeleteBeautiful dialogue as always, Geo!! I too love hearing The Beach Boys. While "Sloop" is indeed excellent, my favorite because of the musicality
ReplyDelete...is "God Only Knows". But, for me, lately, nothing beats the early Chicago songs.... they lift my spirit more than any other music of late.
ReplyDeleteThanks Prof., my sentiments exactly. But I still have yet to hear lyrics to compare with,"The fore-cook he had the fits, threw away all of my grits, then he took and ate up all of my corn!" You just don't get lines like that very often and I've always held them in an esteem all their own.
DeleteNow that we're about to step into autumn, I sure hope the dark days of summer are behind you and Jon once and for all. You guys are both too special to have had such a rough time of it. (And I don't believe you for one second when you say you've never had a sunny disposition!) As always, Norma's pic is fabulous. You guys make a good team, ya know? Maybe you should get hitched... :)
ReplyDeleteCompassionate Susan, thank you. It's unlikely that Jon and I will get hitched. He doesn't love me like that. Besides, Norma might object. But we're both relieved to have emerged into the hope and relief of autumn. Dylan probably would respond well to encouragement too. For now, please relay my encouragement to Smarticus and my admiration to yourself. I've seen what Norma's gone through tending me and wouldn't want anyone go unrewarded for such kindness.
DeleteThanks for the kind mention, Geo. I'm afraid encouragement just does not make the cut: I need a brand new life! And even I am sane enough to know such things are not possible.
DeleteWe have to make do as best we can (with what we are given). It's not always easy, but that's often how life goes. I hope your own life is getting better?
One hour at a time (or one tail wag if you are fond of cats).
- Dylan
Coragem, meu amigo! When my great-grandfather docked in San Francisco Harbor, he found a forest of tall ships deserted for the Gold Rush. He made his way up the river and raised vegetables. Modest man, modest dream. His life is a good lesson --except for getting drunk and dying in Babel Slough-- and yet, I am here. We are here by chance, but we proceed by purpose. Keep writing, meu amigo!
DeleteYou ever closely looked at a rain drop on a some grass. friend Geo ? You ever saw in that rain drop a rain bow ? And you ever saw that it's an upside gown rain bow? In fact, everything we see in rain drop is upside down … like and end … or a new beginning. Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteI love your comment, Cat! It got me thinking further about the physics of seeing. Not only is the rainbow upside down in the raindrop, but everything we see is also inverted by the eye's lens refracting on the retina. It's a wonder we know which end is up.
DeleteAs a second and third grade teacher I am very familiar with rainbows, refractions, and raindrops. I miss the days of playing with water, prisms, and rainbows in a dark classroom ~ We had such fun! I love Norma's photos, as always. I'm always trying to catch raindrops with my camera.
ReplyDeleteI just feel terrible that you have gone through such a rough summer. I kept hearing a little voice saying you've got to check on Geo's blog, but then I hear a lot of little voices, because it was not a good summer for computers, the internet, and me. I'm glad I'm working backwards, and not anxiously forwards, because I know you're coming round. To me, there is nothing worse than relentless pain, and nothing better than relief from that pain, even if you know it might return. Here's hoping it vanishes.
My first husband was a quadriplegic, and he suffered from horrible bouts of pain. He swore by smoking marijuana. It certainly stopped the flames in his body. Just throwing that observation out there. Take care!
I have more trouble with decreased physical endurance and anxiety than pain. Lorazepam goes well with pinot noir and the gradually returning sense of being useful helps most of all. Any addition of pain-meds cause me to suggest replacing the National Anthem with "Help Me Rhonda!"
DeleteAt least "Help Me Rhonda" is easier to sing. It sounds like you know what you're doing. Take care!
Delete