When I grabbed my camera bag and headed out the door, I had no particular agenda in mind. The sky was still peppered with stars and faint outlines of clouds meant the sunrise had potential. So did the day, as I soon learned.marion_owen_photography.
I drove a couple miles to the mouth of the Buskin River, a tight, S-curve stream that flows into the ocean near Kodiak’s main airport. As I pulled into parking lot, the tires crunched over old snow and new ice. I took the precaution of stretching spiked “grippers” over the soles of my boots so I didn’t end up spread-eagled — or worse — on the ice.
I hiked upriver along a snow-packed trail to where sandwiches of ice sheets, stranded by the receding river and tide, creating interesting patterns. I set my gear down on the matted rye grass and took inventory: river, ocean, beach, sunrise, mountains. The clouds began fringing with pink and orange. Pacific wrens chatted in the spruce trees. Nice.
I unzipped the back panel of the camera bag, anticipating a fun, creative morning. But as I reached for the camera body, all I saw was an empty slot. I’d forgotten to re-pack my bag after going on vacation.
Now what? I reached in my coat pocket and pulled out my iPhone…
After I resigned myself to using the cell phone, I began to relax and play, discovering more things to photograph. “I’ve got to bring my students here next week,” I said aloud.
I felt pleased because of what I didn’t do, which was get frustrated, put myself down, and feel cheated by the universe–all the while mumbling, “Why me?”
After an hour or so, I slung my backpack over my shoulder hiked back to the car. The one feeling, the one word that kept coming to mind was gratitude.
Beautiful!
Thank you so much for your comment. I hope your day goes “beautifully” along, with or without an iPhone!
Yes and Thank You … a constant reminder of Gratitude.
Thank you, Susan, for your comment. Gratitude, yes, for everything. It’s not so much what happens to us, but how we react to life. Cheers and blessings, Marion
except for the mountain shots, our landscape looks much like your’s we have had a monster cold and snowy season, fran h. Madison,wisconsin glad you had your phone…….
I feel your pain, so to speak. We’ve had a mild winter this year. So odd. But spring and summer are near. Yippeee! Seedlings are growing in the garage under lights. Cheers, Marion
Thanks MarionI always look forward to your posts.
Thanks, Carol. Great to hear from you. I’m trying to post more often with a mixture of topics. Hope you don’t mind. Cheers and blessings and happy spring!
Beautiful shots! 🙂
Hi Marion,
I always love to see an email in my email box from you. Love your pictures and your gratitude attitude. These pictures are stunning regardless of the camera. 🙂 I don’t have an i-phone so I’d be “up the creek without a paddle”. Thank you and take care!
Carolyn Clark
http://www.youngliving.com
Please note: message attached
I love that, Carolyn: Gratitude attitude. Have a wonderful equinox launch into spring — Thanks so much — cheers!