Watching the rain move away, noticing how clean the air feels after a thunderstorm has passed through. Behind me, the moon is shining brightly and the clouds have dissipated.
Walking, noticing the feel of my feet on the earth and the breeze on my skin. It is not too cold and not too warm, just about perfect for the sweater and rain jacket I am wearing.
Arriving near the waters edge, hearing a sound I haven’t heard for months - the high-pitched call of a yellowlegs! I see four yellow legs land in the shallow water just a few inches from the shore.
Excited, I am walking slowly and carefully so as not to scare away these shorebirds, the first of what I hope are many that will come to visit. Just then, I hear thunder.
Turning around, I see that big clouds have formed behind me and there is a little lightning in them. They are moving quickly my way. Luckily, there is a shelter here.
Standing under the shelter, I put the rain cover on the camera just in case. I see the raindrops start to fall in front of me. Breathing in the smell of petrichor, I watch the yellowlegs with curiosity. I’m rarely out here in the rain, I wonder what they will do in a thunderstorm.
Watching, it’s pouring down rain now in huge, cold raindrops. The yellowlegs just stand there, seeming to be completely unbothered by the rain! They are so small, you’d think those big raindrops would be unpleasant but it doesn’t appear to be the case.
Scanning the lake, I see a flock of perhaps fifty Franklin’s gulls. They are swirling over the lake just as they do when it’s not raining. They don’t seem bothered by the rain either.
Feeling myself sink into the sound of the rain, I feel an urge to run out and stand in it too, just like the yellowlegs and the Franklin’s gulls. I imagine turning my face to the sky and letting it wash all my troubles away.
Remembering my camera, I don’t actually run out in the rain. My inner child is a bit disappointed, but then she sees kingfisher and osprey fly by and she is once again awash in curiosity.
Noticing little birds zip past in the rain, I watch the bluebirds land in a nearby tree and flit between the branches. Those raindrops must be the size of their heads but it doesn’t seem to be a problem.
Breathing deeply, I notice the rain is starting to let up. The little thunderstorm is moving away as quickly as it moved in, behind it a lovely breeze. I take off the rain cover.
Moving slowly, I once again walk towards the water’s edge. Osprey dives right in front of me and I laugh quietly - of course she did when the light is poor and there’s a pole in my way! I manage to sit down about twenty yards from the yellowlegs without bothering them. A few minutes later, they start calling.
Listening, I hear another yellowlegs calling back. A few minutes later, a fifth yellowlegs comes in and lands. It feels right that she is back with her flock.
Mesmerized, I watch the Franklin’s gulls circle until they disappear into the cloud. It’s intriguing how a huge flock of birds can just disappear into the clouds or sometimes the clear blue sky. I think they are gone, and then they circle over again.
Settling, I relax into the earth and take it all in. Osprey dives a few more times, the ring-billed gulls chase the osprey, the killdeer befriend the yellowlegs, and kingfisher makes a noisy pass in front of me.
Satisfied, I rise slowly, managing not to disturb my feathered friends. For at least this moment, all is right with the world.
Pondering what I have just seen, I walk quietly back towards my car. The birds were undisturbed by the storm. What would it be like if I were so undisturbed by the storms of life, trusting they would pass through with ease?
Wish you ease as you navigate whatever storms life might throw your way.
Amazing! Beyond words today as it touched my soul! Thank you !
The moon photo is glorious.