Our life living off the land in our log cabin, breathing fresh mountain air, and getting back to basics.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Here and Now

Our time here is coming to a close, so I decided to go to the dock and enjoy the river for a while.  There was a seagull close by and I threw some old bread into the air, knowing it would soon come swooping in for a snack.

As I stood tossing the tiny pieces, more gulls began to circling about, diving for scraps and screeching at each other as they competed for the crumbs.  It reminded me of Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Back about a seagull learning about life...an excellent book I read long ago

“Most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight - 
how to get from shore to food and back again”
 
 
 
 
 

Though Jonathan said...
“For most gulls it was not flying that matters, but eating. 
For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight.”
 

The gulls slowly departed when they realized there would be no more bits to nibble.  I remembered the song "Be" - Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Neil Diamond (click on the link if you'd like to listen, it's a lovely song...I performed a dance to it in high school way back when...) and I then found another powerful quote from the book...“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way”...made me pause...am I being my true self?  here?  now?... 


Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f//r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

7 comments:

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

Safe travels as you head back to the mountains.

Looks like you made some great memories from this trip, once again.

Susie Swanson said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip. Have a safe trip. hugs,xo

Dad/Pepere said...

You have quoted from one of my favorite books, that I used for many years in my management activities, as motivational quotes. This book has always inspired me...thank you for reminding me to take it down from the book case. Hugs! P.S. I did not know the song from Neil D. "Be" was about this book.
Thank you for that also.

Leovi said...

Wonderful photos! Beautiful seagull in flight!

A Colorful World said...

Seagulls make the most artistic patterns, like dancers, as they swoop and dive for every bit of nibble they can capture in their beaks! :-) Loved your quotes from the book. Definitely something important to ponder.

betty-NZ said...

I have learned a lot about seagulls since moving to New Zealand, but I've never read the book. Your photos are great!

Lise said...

Thanks Patti, good memories indeed. We had a good trip, now I'm off on another! Hope you've gotten to your destination by now:)

Thanks Susie!

Neil Diamond has an entire Jonathan Livingston Seagull album! It's excellent. Hugs back dad!

Thank you Leovi:)

Thanks Marie, it's a great book and record!

Thanks Betty, seagulls are fascinating creatures, as I'm sure you are discovering!