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August 24, 2005
noticing
As I was coming back to my grandma's apartment tonight the sun was just setting. It was incredible. Really, one of the most striking sunsets I've ever seen. So good, in fact, that I ran (albeit slowly) out to the beach to enjoy it. Unfortunately, I just sent my camera off for warranty service yesterday, so I couldn't take a picture of it, but I still want to try to share it with you.
Looking straight west over the water, the background was a mostly-solid canvas of flat clouds. This was colored in distinct horizontal bands of bright glowing orange, red, and pink. It looked like a big pastel rainbow on its side. This filled about half the sky and was nearly as bright directly overhead as it was at the horizon. In front of this were low, puffy clouds. They looked very dark, but were silhouetted by the sun and bordered with white. I could see rain falling from a few of these. Up the beach to the north, the sky faded into a deep, dark purple. To the south, a thunderstorm was throwing bolts of lightning around and booming peals of thunder.
I waded about 10 feet out into the water so I could stand in the color of the reflection. The water was warm, and totally flat. I've never seen the gulf so flat. It was rippled, but there were no waves or swells as far as I could see. As I stood there, I noticed little splashes in the water all around me. I thought it was starting to rain, but then I noticed flashes of silver in the splashes, and noticed that I was standing in the middle of a school of hyperactive minnows. They were little guys, maybe an inch long, darting all around and summersaulting out of the water every few feet. It was so amazing. I felt so lucky to be able to live in a creation where I can experience these things.
As I was walking back to the apartment, I noticed the flickering lights of TVs on in apartments. I saw a few people driving by, some talking on phones, and a jogger, staring only at the road in front of her. I thought, "Do you see what you're missing?" "Is that really better than this?" What would make people not want to come out and watch this magnificent performance? I don't know.
I just hope that I don't lose my appreciation for things around me. I hope that even if I live in a place where I can see a sunset like this every night, I will still take time to enjoy it. Someone please poke me if I don't.
Posted by neal on August 24, 2005 04:21 PM
Comments
Great story! thanks for that...
You must be in heaven with that giant puddle (the gulf) nearby. :)
Posted by: Mike on August 25, 2005 10:46 AM