March 2022 SOLC–Day 9
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Yesterday afternoon after work I drove to a nearby town and walked out onto the pedestrian bridge to watch the ducks. I love looking down on them from above, watching them waddle atop the ice, seeing their colors flash and dim in the sun and shadows, marveling at their brilliant orange webbed feet. But it was already later than I’d hoped. I knew I didn’t have too long.
But it was long enough to admire the ducks.
Long enough to take some pictures.
Long enough to chat with a fellow birding enthusiast.
Long enough to watch a budding bird enthusiast throw bread to the ducks with his dad.
Long enough to hear his rippling laughter mingle with the eager quacking of the ducks.
Long enough to feel the weight of the day slough off my shoulders.
Before long, shadows lengthened. The sun sank below the tree line. The air cooled, and the brilliant teal of the mallard drakes’ heads dulled.
I took my last photo, put my camera away, and walked off the bridge. It was time to head home.
I may not have been there very long. But I was there long enough.
Nix the comfort zone 
Such great use of repetition and also a reminder that sometimes long enough is enough!
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Thanks. It was a nice boost at the end of the day.
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Love the rhythm in this post. I don’t know if this it is true for you, but sometimes the knowledge of slicing in March leads me to live in and take in moments more, and I felt that in your post. Important reminder to take those moments all the time.
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It’s a lot easier now that we have some light before and after work 🙂
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The anaphora of “long enough” is poetic and effective for this slice, calming me as it must’ve calmed you in the moment.
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Thanks, Margaret. 🙂
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Good for you for finding such joy in such a small moment. Too often we wish for more time without appreciating what time we do have.
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I do better when I can find those small moments and celebrate them.
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Yep…long enough. Love those bright orange duck feet on the ice!
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It’s those feet that brought me back! I’d been there a few days earlier, but hadn’t had my camera with me and my cell wasn’t up to the zoom challenge.
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