Rain ...

"Rain, A Perspective" ... @2010 Copyrighted Photo:  All Rights Reserved.

(If you would like to use or purchase a copy of one of my photos please leave me a comment)

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand: rejoice, for your soul is alive."  ~Eleonora Duse

I have alot on my plate and my mind these days. My thoughts and prayers are with those on the East coast of the U.S. currently being pounded by this monster of a hurricane, aptly named Irene. I have many photography and writer friends living on the East coast, so I was a bit relieved this (yesterday) morning when I saw that the storm had been downgraded to a category 1. I hope and pray it stays that way ...  that is that Irene stays a catergory 1 hurricane and does not travel back out to sea over warm waters to increase in intensity once again.  I also hope and pray that the damage sown by Irene is minimal and that there is no loss of life in this storm. God Bless ALL on the East coast!

Wouldn't it be nice if some of Irene's rain would make its way down to Texas where they are presently experiencing a record breaking, devastating drought? I am reminded once again, by this storm Irene and drought condition in the southwest, (as I stated in my poem just the other day) that:  "Nature heeds no fencing in."

In keeping with thoughts on rain ... I stumbled across this beautifully illustrated music video late this evening ... Well, guess it's early morning now. Anyhow, it's  a beautiful ballad about rain. I happen to love the rain; It washes away all the hurt, pain, dirt and grime. This song might just be the inspiration that I need to find my voice to sing again...I am amazed at the circular nature of life, truth and personal experiences .... that often what we seek lies at the end of a circular journey and only when we round the last of the journey do we begin to see that light and dark, supreme hope and utter despair, love and hate, ecstasy of joy and the abysmal depths of sadness often go hand in hand. We must first experience the darker one in order to be resurrected to savor the other.

Patty Griffin, "Rain": http://youtu.be/pFbjE7NFmUI

P.S. I posted a comment to my blog on Thursday and my entire sidebar disappeared? Very strange, but then: these are strange days. I tried uploading my backup file, but it has somehow been corrupted? So, until I have the time, patience and frame of mind to browse through the 19 pages of code associated with this blog ... I will be sidebarless ... better than topless though, right? ; )

8_31_11 ... I finally found the time and patience to go through the code and found the problem. Thank you my fabulous bottle of 2002 Merlot ... Knew there was a reason that I had been saving you ... you brought my luck, perhaps?