March 2024 SOLC–Day 20
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Last Saturday I woke early. I knew I wanted to drive to the marsh for sunrise. After a hectic week of report cards, I needed a dose of calm. The forecast had promised fog and it delivered.
I arrived to a shrouded world. Objects faded in and out of sight as I walked. The puddles seemed to offer portals to other worlds.
I was wrapped in quiet, my view limited to what was immediately around me. The horizon held its secrets close. After the busy, stimulation of the week, this limited focus was a balm.
Occasionally, a faint shadow appeared in the distant fog. Eventually, it resolved into another person. We’d pass with a nod or a hello. Then I’d be back to reveling in the solitude, hearing only the far off calls of birds– mostly sea gulls, and geese and the repeated joyful serenades of the song sparrows.
Finally, the sun gained an edge over the fog, and blue patches of sky emerged.
It was time for me to leave.
I left feeling grateful, carrying the calm of the morning within me.
Nix the comfort zone 
Those photos are beautiful. I was feeling a bit aggravated before reading this and your words and images have delivered some calm to me. Thank you.
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I’m so glad you appreciated the calm, too. The marsh is a wonderful place in any type of weather. This particular day was especially peaceful.
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“The puddles seemed to offer portals to other worlds.” What a lovely line. Thank you for sharing your beautiful calming pictures. I could feel my shoulders move downward away from my ears as I read your post.
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Looking at them as I wrote this post had the same effect on me!
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Wishing for some inner calm…a dawn walk is a good idea. Thanks for sharing these, I look forward to them.
Laurie
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Dawn walks are my absolute favorite! They get progressively harder to manage as sunrise gets earlier and earlier.
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These photos are beautiful. Your words brought me calm as I read. Your pictures made me wish I was there.
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Thanks! I’m so glad you enjoyed the walk 🙂
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Oh my – between the photos and your words, I can feel the calm. I loved the line “the puddles seemed to offer portals to other worlds” – YES! – and especially, “I was wrapped in quiet, my view limited to what was immediately around me. The horizon held its secrets close.” This is practically a poem. So beautiful. Again and again, your photos and your words make me long to live near the water.
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It’s about 45 minutes for me to get to the marsh, but it’s always worth it. I never take it for granted, that’s for sure!
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Aaaahhhh! This is perfect and just the vibe I need right now when things feel so full and frantic and noisy. I love the muffle of fog, the way it limits your vision, the soft focus it provides. Thanks for a bit of respite on a Wednesday evening.
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This is definitely a week to hold any respite you can find close, and savor it!
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