Tuesday, March 16, 2004
A day of simple pleasures
It was a nice day! I did many things that brought a little more energy and rest to my soul. It is always nice to enjoy life's simple pleasures when you can. Here is a list of what I did today.
The snow. We have had an unexpected snow storm here The weather is somewhat warm, so it is even more strange. After my first shift at work, I drove around town and took pictures of how Council Bluffs' trees look with snow stuck to them. The weather was perfect for enjoying snow, as the flakes were large, there was no bitter wind, and the sky was foggy and bright gray. The snow was wet, almost on the verge of turning back into water, so it made no noise at all as you walked on it. It was one of those rare days that fills with joy just to be able to experience the day. It was a nice, quiet time.
The monuments. I made a visit to two of my most sacred destinations; the Lewis and Clark monument, and the Black Angel monument. I spent much time at both, reflecting and enjoying the silence. At both places, I was the only one for as far as I could see.
The Black Angel is a memorial as well as a symbol of hope. When General Dodge's wife (Ruth Ann Dodge) saw the black angel in her dreams, it warned her of her own death in days to come, but also soothed her, telling her to drink from the bowl it offered, and to be blessed. She died just three days later while her family was sad, they were comforted to know she was in the angel's care.
The statue was built in 1919 by the same man who made the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, and it is a beautiful monument. It is a solid bronze statue, that stands in a dais. In the summer there are small pools of water, and some flowers growing in a small garden. I cleared the snow from the memorial engraving, and took some pictures of the so-called 'Black Angel.' I could almost feel it telling me that the good spirits are watching over me (whether you call them angels or not).
The snow continued to fall. It felt like I was in another world as I walked among the snow covered gravestones to get to the Black Angel. The flakes were large, and seemed to be falling from just above the trees. I felt as if I was in a snow globe! The only thing I can imagine to be more beautiful than today would to be walking beneath falling cherry blossoms, something I hope to do someday.
At Lewis and Clark, I get a different vibe altogether. Since it was erected to commemorate the brave explorers, and the native Americans that helped them, the monument often gives me a spirit of adventure. A lot of things in my life are risky adventures... I have pinned a lot of time, money, and hopes into this pharmacy school business. I hope I get in. The Lewis and Clark monument renews my faith in myself, and says 'go for it! The safe road isn't always the best.' From that monument, I could see for miles..., getting a little glimpse of what untamed Iowa must have been like. The birds, deer, and rabbits also remind me that I have to take care of where I live, because others rely on Iowa's hills also!
After all of that I rushed to work, and got back into the daily madness of my life. All night I simply reflected on my day, and knew that no matter how others see me, I could be content and happy with myself. It was a day that renewed my drive and direction, and a day I needed very badly.
So as I end my day with this blog entry, and my nightly cup of green tea (ocha nomimasu), I want to say thanks for the snow, my fortunate free time this morning, and nature's beauty. Be ready to receive emailed pictures everyone. Goodnight!
PS - did you know that the word 'blog' isn't even in this website's spell check dictionary? How bizarre!
The snow. We have had an unexpected snow storm here The weather is somewhat warm, so it is even more strange. After my first shift at work, I drove around town and took pictures of how Council Bluffs' trees look with snow stuck to them. The weather was perfect for enjoying snow, as the flakes were large, there was no bitter wind, and the sky was foggy and bright gray. The snow was wet, almost on the verge of turning back into water, so it made no noise at all as you walked on it. It was one of those rare days that fills with joy just to be able to experience the day. It was a nice, quiet time.
The monuments. I made a visit to two of my most sacred destinations; the Lewis and Clark monument, and the Black Angel monument. I spent much time at both, reflecting and enjoying the silence. At both places, I was the only one for as far as I could see.
The Black Angel is a memorial as well as a symbol of hope. When General Dodge's wife (Ruth Ann Dodge) saw the black angel in her dreams, it warned her of her own death in days to come, but also soothed her, telling her to drink from the bowl it offered, and to be blessed. She died just three days later while her family was sad, they were comforted to know she was in the angel's care.
The statue was built in 1919 by the same man who made the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, and it is a beautiful monument. It is a solid bronze statue, that stands in a dais. In the summer there are small pools of water, and some flowers growing in a small garden. I cleared the snow from the memorial engraving, and took some pictures of the so-called 'Black Angel.' I could almost feel it telling me that the good spirits are watching over me (whether you call them angels or not).
The snow continued to fall. It felt like I was in another world as I walked among the snow covered gravestones to get to the Black Angel. The flakes were large, and seemed to be falling from just above the trees. I felt as if I was in a snow globe! The only thing I can imagine to be more beautiful than today would to be walking beneath falling cherry blossoms, something I hope to do someday.
At Lewis and Clark, I get a different vibe altogether. Since it was erected to commemorate the brave explorers, and the native Americans that helped them, the monument often gives me a spirit of adventure. A lot of things in my life are risky adventures... I have pinned a lot of time, money, and hopes into this pharmacy school business. I hope I get in. The Lewis and Clark monument renews my faith in myself, and says 'go for it! The safe road isn't always the best.' From that monument, I could see for miles..., getting a little glimpse of what untamed Iowa must have been like. The birds, deer, and rabbits also remind me that I have to take care of where I live, because others rely on Iowa's hills also!
After all of that I rushed to work, and got back into the daily madness of my life. All night I simply reflected on my day, and knew that no matter how others see me, I could be content and happy with myself. It was a day that renewed my drive and direction, and a day I needed very badly.
So as I end my day with this blog entry, and my nightly cup of green tea (ocha nomimasu), I want to say thanks for the snow, my fortunate free time this morning, and nature's beauty. Be ready to receive emailed pictures everyone. Goodnight!
PS - did you know that the word 'blog' isn't even in this website's spell check dictionary? How bizarre!
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