a thankful reflection

Full Moon Claytor ©2011 gary garbett.com

There was solemnness and a revival upon departing from my vacation yesterday morning. My time away was beyond healthy and a well needed refueling for my soul. It wasn't something I jotted down on my to-do list while I was away. It just happened. Seemed almost ironic with the decade commemoration of 9/11 being played out around our country and the world.

Perhaps my deciding to take the long way home was an attempt to extend my vacation a bit, but traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway with the windows down and the roof open was more about reflection rather than delaying my return to the real world. It was a time of emotion and celebration as I thought of the day that changed so many lives ten years earlier and on a day that looked so similar to the one I was experiencing. The air was fresh. The sky blue, and the sun warmed my skin with its touch. I drove through the beautiful panoramas, stopping from time to time just to live in the moment, knowing I have a lot to be thankful for.

The end of my vacation drive found me in the parking lot of our church. I was thirty minutes late for the 5PM dedication memorial service for 9/11. I walked in with my hair a mess, wearing shorts, and my skin still warm from the hours of sunshine. Those things were trivial and just didn't matter. I listened and was touched by the stories I heard of those retelling their personal accounts from a morning ten years earlier.

I'm not sure I could have scripted this past week any better. It renewed me, gave me hope, and opened my eyes. I believe in a lot of things ...some of which even more today than I did seven days ago.

9.11.11 a good morning and a goodbye

©2011 gary garbett.com

On a day that marks the ten year anniversary of such horrific memories of hatred and loss, I found myself waking to this remarkable view. No radio, television, telephones, or headlines were able to interfere with the beauty of another morning. I was surrounded by peace.

After spending the week with my cameras and my thoughts during most of the days, I'll spend this morning packing my suitcase with dirty laundry and the enormous amount of sincere life that surrounded me for seven days. This place is mind healthy and always reconnects me. Im not sure that I could honor this date in any better place, either on earth or in spirit.

Good morning and goodbye mean the same thing today. Hatred does not exist here.

a morning filled with heroes

©2011 gary garbett.com

What a day of wonder. I spent the morning documenting the Claytor Lake Sprint Triathlon. It was a day that was far more beautiful than the weather, which was sun filled and stunning. The large wonderful group of young adults to seniors, were such an inspiration and filled with an amazing joy for life. Their spirit and enthusiasm was infectious and they were each truly living for every moment in the moment. They shined. 

As things were coming to a close and as the final runner turned the last corner for the last twenty yards, long after the event leader had crossed the line,everyone gathered at the finish line to encourage her with loud and enthusiastic cheers of support.It was a remarkable experience. Even as a spectator, the emotion and the adrenaline rush at the end was equal to that of the start.

I have the rest of my day in front of me, but my list of heroes grew several pages longer even before pouring my second cup of coffee of the day. Cheers to a life, especially those filled with inspiring heroes.

order of something else

©2011 gary garbett.com

Today’s barely begun and it’s already been a journey. Aftersleeping in until nearly 7AM, which I never do, I jumped from the bed and rushed to the marina with hope of catching thesunrise. And all before a cup of coffee, breakfast, or even a toothbrush. There’dbe time for that after spending a few minutes on the water with my cameras,waiting for the sun to peek overtop of the trees along the lakefront. Thismorning wasn’t to be that day though. The light cloud cover diffused themorning light. Something else was in order. As I sat along the shoreline, thestillness of the water was interrupted by the synchronized swimming of sixducks. Back and forth they swam before finally making their land entrance 20 yards from where I sat. They soon, unlike me, beganenjoying their breakfast along the bank.

After returning to the cabin, the sunlight made an incredibleentrance on the day while I enjoyed breakfast, several cups of coffee, and finallymy toothbrush. There was no music or television, just the sunlight making long shadows across the room as the chirping chorus of crickets and songbirds created the soundtrack. The day was amazingly glorious.

After speaking with a Ranger this morning, I've decided to follow the lead and head out on a fieldtrip with my camerasand a winding roadtrip to Paint Back, Virginia, just east of the West Virginiaborder. Life is about now and according to my wristwatch, I'm running a little behind.

the promise of a morning look

©2011 gary garbett.com

After three days of deluge while tropical storm Lee made his way along I-81, I waited with a cup of coffee for the sun to rise and to see what the morning would bring. Most days, life is worth waiting for. I believe my cameras and I have a date today. More will follow after I warm my coffee.