I am not sure how to interpret this advisory sign:
Beware of …?
Am I to understand that they lack cyclists there?
Or do they only care about one of the cyclists?
Should I watch out because one of the cyclists (and apparently all the hikers) are dangerous?
Or is the takeaway message if the hikers don’t get you, the cyclist will?
(Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge.)
I love to dig in my garden. My neighborhood lies in the foothills of a mountain range, so all the yards are full of rocks of many sizes which were shed from the mountains in ancient landslides.
When I dig a hole for a new plant, I am a rock archaeologist, discovering buried artifacts. Except I don’t have to be careful where I slam my shovel. Sometimes the rock is so weathered that I can pull it apart with my hands, exposing fresh glittering crystals in the local granite (technically a granodiorite, for other rock nerds).
When the shovel catches and bends, I know I’ve caught a big one. A boulder. Then I dig from many angles, eventually on my knees with my hands, to excavate it. Often a rock is lodged in place against several other rocks, still locked and buried. I have to use my fingers deep inside the hole to figure out which rock to move next in order to release my target. So removing a lodged-in-place rock requires working a 3D puzzle with your eyes closed.
And when I finish the puzzle, I have a hole for my plant and new borders for my garden.
The undug.
This post topic comes from The Daily Prompt.
We could debate whether silver linings exist in reality or in attitude but the answer may not matter. Either way, from my perspective, the ability to perceive silver linings is essential to happiness, contentment, and peace of mind. Silver linings are all about the ability to hope, to get past the inevitable bad and ugly times with the belief it gets better. Many other people have thought about this, too, that’s why we have anonymous sayings like
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
or the Springsteen lyric
It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive.
or Eugene O’Neil’s
Man is born broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue.
I know a young woman who tried to kill herself this year. Twice. In between, she found a boyfriend – apparently also preoccupied with death – who did then kill himself. I have struggled and flailed to find the right words or argument that would convince her to keep going, to not give up. But I realize it won’t be anybody’s words that turn her around. The desire to live has to come from the inside.
When I was younger I was obsessed with not getting tricked or fooled and I was always determined to Know the Truth in every situation. I don’t think I care about that nowadays. I’m not saying I believe everything I read or hear. I’m not saying I’ve lost interest in truth. All I’m saying is that a suspicious nature takes a severe toll.
It is a fantasy to imagine I or anyone can live without illusions. Optimism is a kind of illusion. Optimists live longer and happier lives. (There are scientific studies about this so it must be true.) My current thinking is that I am going to believe that things will work out and life will evolve in good ways. Maybe on my deathbed I will say Wulp I was sure wrong about that. but in the meantime I will have enjoyed many days of hope and enthusiasm rather than bitterness and resentment.
Wildfires make nasty air.
Wildfires make gorgeous sunsets.
This post topic comes from The Daily Prompt.
Required Writing 