Monday Morning Musings:
“Maybe the dead know, their eyes widening at last,
Seeing the high beams of a million galaxies flick on
At twilight.”
–from Tracy K. Smith, “My God, It’s Full of Stars”
Before the beginning, there was another,
and perhaps another before that, bangs and waves,
an infinite, endless sea of possibilities—
of if, not when,
light sparks life.
Yet here I am, and here you are,
each the sun of our own universe, surrounded by planets,
stardust in our blood, blinking pulsars for an infinitesimal moment
of time. Beacons, ships in the night, we gaze
at the ghost streams of long-dead stars,
an recreate the twinkling gleams in candles
and sparkling lights adorn trees as winter appears.
We celebrate the anniversary of my birth
leave footprints in the sand, as our ancestors once did,
as they emerged from watery depths–as we do,
each birth the same and different, each life unique,
distinct, and less than a speck.
It’s all in the perspective. The horizon beckons, but is never reached.
I watch the gulls hover and soar, catching wind and light.
As we celebrate, holding fast to dying light, catching fire in
glass and cup, echoing the chirps of stars and gull laughter,
our friends sit a vigil,
and we look to the past, knowing we can’t return—
and if I could put on my younger self’s skin, like a selkie
dons her castoff seal pelt, I don’t think it would fit,
not in this world, and it’s the only one I know,
with shadows looming from the light, imperfectly perfect, gigantic, a pinprick—we dream–a lifetime passes in a second.
My birthday was last week. We went to Ocean City, NJ, to take a walk on the beach, which was mostly deserted except for some people walking their dogs. We saw lots of egg casings and horseshoe crab remains on the beach. I had a free glass of wine for my birthday at Blue Cork Winery, and then we had Indian food and champagne (actually a crémant). To continue my birthday celebration a couple days later, we went to the art museum, and then walked to the Christmas Village in Philadelphia. I started laughing when my husband took a photo of me eating a cannoli, and then I couldn’t stop laughing, which made me think of my mom, and made me cry while I was laughing. A dear friend’s mother died on my birthday. We paid our respects on Saturday, and then took a drive to see the house where I lived when I was in high school.
Merril’s Movie Club: We streamed Belfast this week. In this beautifully filmed in black and white, Kenneth Branagh takes a nostalgic look at Belfast, a sort of love letter to a place and time that no longer exists. It’s bittersweet without being too sappy, though set during a time of violence, strife, and intolerance (and I think that’s understood). I liked it very much, and it was a perfect holiday/birthday movie.
Last night, Santa drove through town.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I think we were both musing on the mysteries of the universe today, Merril! Happy Holidays 😊
There does seem to be a lot of that going around. 😀
I love that final section! Funny our titles are very similar 🙂
I’m running very behind, missed the last couple of days with Sarah’s poems. I’ll get there tomorrow. Had our booster jab today on top of not sleeping and not-working sleeping tablets. I’m drifting…
Thank you very much! I sort of wrote it in stages. I hope you get a good sleep and feel better. I didn’t have any reaction to the booster, but I know some people do.
Slept much better thanks! No side effects this time either. We had the Pfizer for the vaccine but it was impossible to get a Pfizer booster before mid-January. We could have the Moderna any time. Nobody wants it. Don’t understand it.
Good news! At one point, they were saying it was good to get a different vaccine for the booster, but who knows? I had Pfizer for all three, and my husband had Moderna then a Pfizer booster because that’s what was available.
People generally have decided that PPfizer is THE vaccine. Anything else is BAD.
I think here it’s Pfizer or Moderna. I know the experts now advise against the J&J, but I know some countries also have other vaccines that are effective.
We get these fads, as if we’re all experts in biology and immunology. We hear people on market stalls arguing about the effects of different vaccines. It’s laughable really.
Yes, and it’s all so uncertain–except that getting any vaccine is bound to help somewhat.
You’d think.
😏
Happy Belated Birthday, Merril, and thank you for sharing your celebration and your musing 🙂 Your photos are gorgeous. You are truly developing a wonderful eye, especially for Nature.
I love these lines:
“and we look to the past, knowing we can’t return—
and if I could put on my younger self’s skin, like a selkie
dons her castoff seal pelt, I don’t think it would fit,
not in this world, and it’s the only one I know,”
I’m sure my younger much more shy and introverted self would have struggled in this world. Besides, I have less time now for looking back than I have for looking forward 😉
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Marie!
I feel like I was so unaware of a lot of things when I was younger. But I wouldn’t mind having the energy I had.
Well, yeah, the energy … lol … I forgot about that 😆
Hahaha. 😀
Those were the same lines that resonated with me. I don’t relish entering my twilight years, but at the same time, my younger skin no longer fits, nor would I want it to.
Thank you very much, Liz. We really can’t go back, and you’re right, I wouldn’t want to, but yes, I’m also not so fond of the physical getting older.
You’re welcome, Merril.
Happy belated birthday, Merril! I enjoyed your musings this evening. Of course, your photos are spectacular! I especially love the one of you standing next to the tree at the winery. You look like a little girl who got her hand caught in the cookie jar…so sweet!
Thank you very much, Jill. I’m all windblown from being at the beach–we stopped at the winery on the way home, and since daughter was the only other person there, I did enjoy my free glass of wine!
I love all of your birthday photos, particuarly the ones on the beach. You must have had a wonderful birthday. Happy birthday!
Thank you so much, Liz. Despite COVID and not doing things we’d normally do like go to a movie or show and eat in a restaurant, it turned out to be a very nice birthday and birthday week.
You’re welcome, Merril. My husband and I are finding alternative fun things to do together as well.
That’s good. We have to be creative. 😀
😀
Beautiful musing on time and space; splendid photography; and, not the only if, but a very telling one: “of if, not when,
light sparks life.”
Thank you so much, Derrick. I truly appreciate your thoughtful comment and close reading. Happy Solstice!
Happy birthday Merril, clearly it was delicious! Beautiful musings thank you and the accompanying photos delight my jaded heart ..
Thank you so much, Susan. I’m glad my post brought you some delight! 💙
Belated Bithdayness, Merril!
It sounds like it was a wonderful time, with some great photos, to boot.
I especially like these lines:
“As we celebrate, holding fast to dying light, catching fire in
glass and cup, echoing the chirps of stars and gull laughter,”
Thank you very much, Ken. Yes, it was a very nice birthday (week). 😀
Thank you for letting me know which lines you especially liked.
You are deep, Merril.
Your reflections, the way you express them and pair them with pics shows that aspect of you.
You are out here, with who you are and comfortable in your skin.
I am learning this, for me.
I should be comfortable with me. After all I am happy with me.
Wonderful post!
I’m glad you had a fab BD!
Thank you so much for your lovely, thoughtful comment, Resa. I so appreciate it! 💙💙
Happy Birthday month, Merril! Your photo are as poetic as your words. What a fun-filled celebration, and Indian cuisine is the best!! 🎂
Thank you so much, dear Rose! 💙