Land of living skies; an emjayandthem photo
Have you ever noticed that while everything around you changes and churns, our sky is always there?
Oh yes, it’s ever moving, especially those prairie skies I remember from days of old.
I found this photo by accident; digging through photos of our soon-to-be-graduate, this one appeared.
It gave me pause.
I stopped what I was doing and, for a time, I was transported.
Once again, I smelled wild sage and marveled at the scars prairie schooners had left in the hillside. Mica crumbled between my fingertips and I gasped remembering the feeling of ancient arrowheads scratching my skin as I stuffed them into my Levis.
When you find yourself overwhelmed or stressed, do what I do: Look up.
Look up at our shared sky and dare yourself not to be filled with wonder.
Dare yourself not to be transported.
Dare yourself not to feel hope rising.
Charlie has been sick since Thursday of last week. His kindergarten grad cervemony is Friday. I am stressed Mj. Thank you for the reminder. I will look up.
I’m so sorry to hear that, Lenore. Poor little guy. I hope he feels better soon and I’m sorry he will miss his special ceremony
Hugs. MJ
Reblogged this on stillbornehope.
thank you, MJ
Looking up at our shared sky!
yay! Isn’t it uniting that, 1/2 way around the world, you and I can share in that experience?
MJ
reminds me of the song, “Somewhere Out There…”
As I read your post i was trying to figure out how much I was willing to battle for a birthing momma. They wanted to C/S her, she wanted a labor… Just got back from a lovely normal birth, cute baby….
yes … Fievel Mouskowitz!! I am so glad you battled for the momma and the baby
MJ
As one of my most loyal readers, MJ, you know that looking to the sky is one of my most favorite past times! It’s so humbling.
Yes, I do know that about you and I knew you’d be quick to “get it.” Humbling is the word.. MJ
Fabulous picture and post. Makes me want to breathe it all in… thanks!
Thank you; it’s important to stop and look up … never fails to give me perspective. MJ
That’s a beautiful sky, MJ. I couldn’t help but notice the terrain, and wondered where our great nation looks like that. You’re right, the sky helps us put things in perspective.
Well this was taken in Southern Saskatchewan (Canada .. where I grew up) but that rugged foothill look is prevalent through the Dakotas and parts of Montana, too. I can smell the wild sage from here; no wonder it’s one of my favorite scents. Cheers! MJ
Incredible MJ…love your praire memories of life…I do know…see it often here and have lived it forever…the forever part…the aloneness and the awe even all these years of the ever changing environment out my window and in my life:) If ever on your way home sometime come see me:) If not here I will meet yah in MT.
Yes, it never ceases to amaze me how those big old hillsides are still just there … we think our stuff is so important and they just stay solid and constant. If ever I am out your way I will definitely look you up
MJ
Moving words and a spectacular picture. You rock, MJ!
Thank you Renee. There was a time I had looked hard and long for that photo and I suppose that the disappointment of not finding it clouded my memory. When I found it, it was like finding a gift. It made me slow down and enjoy the moment instead of hustling around trying to get all of my “stuff” done. Cheers for your day! MJ
Dare taken…we live on a high (for our area) plateau and the viewing is remarkable. Day and night, the sky is a source of comfort and peace for me.
*anna
Ooh I love the night sky, too .. forgot to mention that. Thank you, Anna, for reminding me. MJ
Amazing picture. It just “breathes” fresh air and reminds us to take in the view. Yes, look up.
Thank you; would you believe that was taken on one of those “throwaway” cameras? My camera was on the fritz at the time. Amazing! MJ
So very true! The sky is always a scene of wonder and awesomeness. Whenever I look up, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to be able to soar up there.
you and me both, Terri! MJ
There is s stretch of local highway near here with a traffic light perched on a hill. On a hazy, winters afternoon, sitting at a stoplight, I can look down over town but the sun hangs in the sky right in front of me. I always think that the sun was in that exact same spot a million years ago, and will still be there until the universe collapses on itself billions of years from now. Makes all the mundane issues of the day sort of fizzle away….
Yes it does .. I would love a picture of that spot you described
MJ
What a picture you paint, stuffing arrowheads into your jeans out there in the hills with that sky above you. I feel like I am almost right there.
I’m glad. I love it out there .. so wild, so open, so free. MJ
I love the photo, MJ. Great that you came across it. I hadn’t thought of the sky’s consistency in our lives, but you’re right. The sun rises and set every day. A constant–a comfort. Hope you are having great day, my friend.
Hugs,
Kathy
Every day. And remember, when it’s setting on us, it’s shining on someone else .. Cheers! MJ
I think this same way all the time…the same sun, moon and stars my friends and family back home are sharing and looking at the same exact ones..very comforting!
Also MJ, well written…I could almost feel arrowheads in the pocket of my “boy” Levi’s!
~d.
Did I mention it would be the “same” ? Hahaha. Oh my gosh, nothing like proofing ones comments before “posting”!
I remember being about 21 and living down in Texas, far from my SK family. I was talking on the phone one night and feeling very homesick. My oldest brother commented on the big fat moon that night and when I said I could see it, too, I suddenly didn’t feel quite so far away from him.
I can still feel the points of those arrowheads and remember being so amazed at how sharp they were after all that time had passed. MJ
That is an amazing photo! I’m going to make it my desktop image.
Really? Wow .. thank you, I’m humbled you like it so much.
MJ
That’s a beautiful photo. I love western skies…always so big, so colorful, so powerful. Thank you for this view! ~ Sheila
One of my faves & I’m glad you enjoyed it, MJ
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