My View . . .

I am most fortunate in that I work a mere six months out of the year. On occasion, I work an extra week here and there. But too, I am afforded a bit of flexibility to take extra time. Such is my situation these last four weeks.

Over the course of this time, I’ve awakened most of my mornings here - to the quiet retreat of the sounds of the house. I rise from my warm cocoon, make coffee in my French press and then sit with mug in hand sipping a rich, yummy mocha as I look out this wall of windows onto a sea of trees and this mountainous view. And, I find I smile out at the day with gratitude, no matter what it may issue: rain or snow or shine.

My lil nest is not only a place of warmth and protection but, too, here - I feel at one with nature; I watch sandhill cranes and eagles and flocks of birds, I cannot always identify, as they fly past. Moose River gleams up through the trees reflecting the sun’s light. The sky is either a vast open blue or a dynamic motion of cloud formations. And fog periodically rolls in obscuring the vista and then in turn dissipates from sight.
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As I ready to fly back to the Arctic for my two week work rotation, I already anticipate my return to another glorious two weeks at home in this cozy, creative haven. It is easy to remain grateful when I’m free to write and paint and socialize and run and play and dance and imagine new ideas for projects I eagerly anticipate constructing. But too gratitude sustains my peace of mind whether or not I rise to the day looking out at such a sight or I rise to look out onto a flat, white desert land far from life at home. Today, though, this is my view.