I was obliged to go into town. This is never a good thing and I had put it off as long as I could, but my son had errands for me and it could not be delayed any longer. Reluctantly, I braved the concrete and traffic, thankful that in spite of busy roads, they are only comparatively busy, even on a market day.
The market was, at least, some small consolation. You never know what you will find, even in a small town. The stall selling hot food caught my eye, and only my ever-expanding waistline stopped me from trying the goat stew. The summer clothes were a bit on the early side, given the chill in the air, but just around the corner, I spotted a new shop. Which just goes to show how often I go into town. Apparently, it has been there for a couple of years now…
But, I liked the name. Any shop called ‘Holy Cow‘ had to be worth a look, especially when I am still prop-hunting for the workshop and their window was full of wonderful things. As I paid for my purchase, in a space filled with Indian fabrics and colours, and redolent of incense, I got chatting with Poonam Gupta, the owner of the shop. Talking about the workshop, I let my enthusiasm bubble over.
The inevitable pre-workshop stress was gone as I explained to the three ladies present what we do, how we do it and why. The eloquence of excitement got the better of me, and the four of us were smiling when I left… though I have to wonder what they thought of the odd woman in scruffy pond-cleaning clothes who wove tales of ancient Sumer…
Walking back to the car, I thought back over the previous workshops, marvelling at what we had managed to do and all the wonderful moments that stand out in memory. Later, working on the computer, I scrolled through the photos in the blog’s media library.
There are over twenty two thousand images stored in there. Most of them were taken since the Silent Eye came into being and, directly or indirectly, many of them were taken on ‘school business’. And, for every photo that makes it to the blog, there are a dozen or more that are stored in my own photo files…
I couldn’t resist wandering through them, marvelling at the places we have found, the things we have seen, the people we have shared them with and the wonderment we have experienced at the sacred sites and in the wild places.
It is not that you forget… I have an excellent memory for places… but you cannot keep all of your days on the surface of the mind all the time. Details sink down a level or two, until something reminds you and they resurface.
Most of the time, you recall just that one place, person or moment… and yet, no day passes without something amazing touching your life, even if it is only the first flower on a rose bush, a sunset or the dawn song of a bird.
Today, in the grey of a colourless afternoon, I was reminded of all the marvellous things I have seen and lived. I was lost for words, unable to believe that I have seen, known and done all the fabulous things held in my memory.
I have lived a fairly ordinary life on the surface, but it has been truly extraordinary so far… and I see no reason why it should not continue to be so, when every day holds marvels and beauty just waiting to be noticed.
Today I took stock of my memory and realised just how grateful I am for the extraordinary circumstances that allow us, each of us, to experience life on this planet, each in our own way.
I realised how privileged we are to exist at all, given the odds against it, and how incredible life can be when we open ourselves to the experience.
I realised how lucky I am to share the journey with the people who walk beside me…
…and how lucky I am, in spite of all the everyday problems, worries and stressors that affect every one of us, to be right here, right now, with the possibility of wonder in every breath I take.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Beautiful photos, Sue. I can only imagine the memories you have. ❤️
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There are so many, Dorinda. But no more than anyone else. I don’t think we often stop to give our lives full credit. ❤
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I believe that’s true, Sue. Might be something to reconsider as the days move along. ❤
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🙂 ❤
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thanks, Jaye x
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Going through photos will often make me stop and realize how lucky I have been as well. I love this, “I realised how privileged we are to exist at all, given the odds against it, and how incredible life can be when we open ourselves to the experience.” Thanks for that.
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It is too easy to get bogged down in the mire of everyday worrying… some may be lucier than others in the scope of they get to do and experience, but even stepping outside the door is an adventure 🙂
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Gorgeously expressed, Sue. And I feel the exact same way. But thank you for writing it down so we can all remember how fortunate we are and how extraordinary every moment is. 🙏❤️
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The odds against any one of existing are astromonical.. to be here at all is a gift 🙂 x
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I’m going to keep this post up on my screen all day so I can keep dipping back in and re-reading it. I have to thank you again, Sue, for brightening not just my day but my week, which has been one from hell so far. You’re so like me, in that I avoid going into town to run errands at all costs, I’d much rather go and unearth the medieval stories of any urban space. You remind me of myself, with your enthusiasm bubbling over during conversation with new people – I’m exactly the same about castles and medieval stuff. That’s why I want to do castle tours – apparently my enthusiasm rubs off, and that’s important. Your thoughts and observations, and of course your amazing photos, have really given me a lift. So thank you for making a big difference to what’s been a truly horrible week. 🙂
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I’m sorry to hear it has been so rough, Alli…I’ve had a few of those myself lately, so I can empathise!
I hope you get to do the tours…and I have a feeling you will if you set your mind to it. We run workshop tours of the ancient sacred sites, medieval churches and the occasional castle… we absolutely love doing them and learn as much as we ‘teach’ from them too.
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Oh, I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a bad few weeks too, Sue. It never rains, as they say, does it? The tours sounds amazing. Perhaps one day I can come on one with you, or maybe I’ll end up giving you a castle tour! I’d love that. 🙂
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That would be very cool 🙂 We run the big ritual workshop every year, and three outdoor ones too. The next ones are on our events page 🙂 https://thesilenteye.co.uk/events/
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Thanks for the link, Sue. I’ll take a look. 🙂
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🙂
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An absolutely gorgeous post! The drive into town wasn’t rushed, so it felt like a lovely outing. The reminiscence at the end flowed so well from the first half.
Though… did you have to buy storage space online for *22,000* photos!?!
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I do pay for extra storage… and I may have to cull a few eventually. But not yet 😉
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I’m still on the free plan, but I watch that ‘storage space’ bar tick up so fast with every image. So when I saw 22k images, I was like, O_O WOW
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There was a time you could just get extra storage… then the plans changed. I still have that extra though, and moved to the premium plan a while back. I’m not quite half way through the storage yet 😉
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Nice! Good thing you got in while the gettin’ was good!
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I’m glad they didn’t stop it…
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This moved me deeply, Sue–I almost literally hung on every word.
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It got to me too, just writing it, Ennle.
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I can imagine it did.
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A delightful post, Sue. Appreciated and loved all your words and the beautiful photographs. Thank you! Hugs xx
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Thanks, Joy. I just picked a few at arandom… too many to choose from 🙂 x
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A wonderful post, Sue. Must be something in the air because my sister has just put together a montage of photos taken on walks we did together over the last few years which has made us remember incidents and events, not forgotten, but buried.
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It is surprising how much we store just below the surface…
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With such sights in your mind’s eye, yes, you can count yourself lucky.
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I do 🙂
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Reblogged this on GrannyMoon's Morning Feast.
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Thank you for revblogging, Granny!
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I am enthralled by the beauty and depth of your vision. So thrilled to be “a follower” today….
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Thank you, Violet.
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Wonderful photos Sue. Please send blue flowers, bees and butterflies to my garden!
I was going through our old photo box the other day and the memories therein are still vivid.
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Just let the wild pruple loosestrife in… you’ll have plenty of both )
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What a beautiful and positive post 💜💜
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Thank you, Willow ❤
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Oh, the wonder of if all… A lovely post, Sue!
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Thanks, Bette. It’s a wonder that is open to all 🙂
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Amen, Sue! Beautiful words to remind me what a gift every day is. ❤
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Thanks, Eliza. I doubt you ever forget that ❤
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I had a crappy sleep last night and was feeling, not grumpy exactly, but certainly not my usual chipper self. It was a ‘prepping for Spring’ day where choose a part of the house or garden and get at it with brooms and assorted other tools so it’s ready for use again, rather than being winter storage.
Today was the patio. It was a glorious sunny day and we’d moved all the dross out onto the grass, heaved the outdoor rug (plastic) over the clothesline and hosed it down, along with the patio furniture … and had just settled down for a well earned cuppa while we waited for everything to dry.
Because we live on a lake with a river nearby we get regular visits from the resident bald eagle family in the trees lining the lake.
I was feeling my lack of sleep and my knees were letting me know they had had enough, but there was still another two or three hours work ahead of us.
I slid down in my chair as I sipped my tea, trying to muster the energy to get going again when I noticed two things. The sunny blue skies had been covered up with a great billowing thunderstorm that had our little island in its sights, and then, flying low across the sky to circle right above me was a juvenile bald eagle. They don’t get their distinctive white heads and black feathers until they’re about five.
It swooped and soared, riding the air currents being stirred up by the storm edge.
Suddenly my tiredness and aching knees weren’t bothering me anymore. 🙂
Soon thereafter we scuttled around putting everything that might not like getting rained on back under the patio, reset our chairs and finished our beverages (I had tea and Mrs Widds had coffee) and watched the rain. 🙂
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That’s it…exactly that 🙂
I would live to see a young eagle. We have none left in England… so the Sottish skies will be under scrutiny in June.
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Just wonderful!! Memories remind us how lucky we are. And yours are lovely to behold.
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It is times like this that I bless my grandfather’s memory… he gave me my first decent camera long, long ago.
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You are blessed, Sue.
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Your photography is superb. Your writing is superb. Thank you for sharing always
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Thanks, Janette,
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