Does artificial light have the potential for clouding our vision? Metaphorically speaking, a light at the end of the tunnel would signal the end of uncertainty or misgivings. A sudden upswing in the housing market, a baby sleeping through the night. Troops pulling out of a war zone. The first sign of that light suggests a dash of optimism, a basket of hope, and silently restores our faith. Turn your face to the sun and let it shine down on you.
It isn't always easy, and there is no set path. So many things on our journey to prevail over before the light can be reached. And, of course, as a more cynical person warned me: the light may turn out to be an oncoming train.
These trees here in Arlington Cemetery add grace, beauty, and a sense of order. They lend a hand in the overall grandeur of these hallowed grounds. If a cemetery can use the term grandeur without offending. They have over 142 memorial trees, a wonderful collection of trees to commemorate the people. battles and units that were involved. I did my walk, in Arlington National Cemetery today, miles and miles, up and down the rows, reading the stones and thinking of my people buried there. I lay some flowers upon their graves and whisper out a prayer. I put my hand on the stone, leaving it there for a moment, hoping for a connection of sorts.
So many of the trees at Arlington are gloriously ancient. I have so many pictures with the leaves on the trees, but, they stand there nekkid and proud, as any tree would be. They have nice wooded areas throughout and near Arlington House, General Lee's private residence. The cemetery's oldest trees are almost 250 years old, pre-date the very first burials. The picture below shows the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the background. It is always an honor to be able to walk through here.My apologies for only taking a few pictures and inserting them on a post I changed direction on, I believe they call that eclectic - or maybe even messy.
I want to thank @tattoodjay for hosting the #WednesdayWalk challenge! I would like to see where you walked today and see what you got to see. I hope you had a fabulous time and I think we should meet up here again next week! Until then, keep on smiling!! If you want to do the challenge, drop him a link on his #WedensdayWalk post so he can try to visit your post!
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it"
On August 21, 2017 a total eclipse of the sun was visible from within a narrow corrider across the United States. Ground zero was in Brevard, North Carolina, almost on the Georgia border. We made it into a fiels trip and went, garnering a front row seat. This shot was total eclipse or in "totality," also knicknamed the "diamond ring." Once in a lifetime to get that close.
It is singular how soon we lose the impression of what ceases to be constantly before us. A year impairs, a luster obliterates. There is little distinct left without an effort of memory, then indeed the lights are rekindled for a moment — but who can be sure that the Imagination is not the torch-bearer? Lord Byron
Flowers. Always. To color my world. #alwaysaflower And just like that, these words are done. I want to thank you for strolling along with me through the musings of my mind. Some days, I just have to let them go, giving them freedom, spread across the pages, to say what they say and do what they wish. No judgment.
All I have are my words, armed in my mind, written in pen, stand by stand. Oh, yes. Still by hand. It has a different feel. Altered not by keys, backspace, and delete, I write, erase, tear it to pieces and start all over again. And again.
It’s my way. I walk out to the deep end of the page and dive right in.
Christmas will be coming sooner than I imagined. It's not about the presents my friends, it is about family and friends. In keeping with the Christmas Countdown, I give you one seasonal picture and the day count! There are 38 days 00 hours 07 minutes and 27 seconds.
How Do I Love Thee?
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Elizabeth Barret Browning
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Arlington House certainly has a complex history. I am sure those ancient trees have witnessed a lot of history.
Your photo really shows off the "diamond ring." I cannot believe that was 2017! Where did all that time go?
I know! I had to look up the exact date and was surprised it was that long ago, It feels like yesterday, Where has all my time gone? Time seems to be slipping away even faster.
I can only imagine what it would have been to be living back then. History waxes poetic about it, yet, I cannot help but wonder if time softens the facts. The diamond ring was quite exciting to witness so up close. The sky turned black and the wind started blowing, not unlike a horror movie. Then, all of a sudden, it crossed paths, and you were plunged into total darkness in the passing. I can relive that eerie feeling, just thinking about it.
It was pretty cool. Hey! I hope you have a great day!
A wonderful read as always
Now some find the thought of being eclectic an insult or a bad thing but I do not I look on it as being free flowing and not bound down to one path
Thanks for joining Wednesday Walk :), I truly enjoy exploring the world virtually each Wednesday seeing walks from all around the globe and feeling I am there and experiencing it all myself, such as I did in your post just now :)
Haha! Who are you calling eclectic? :) It is always a little free-flowing, no matter how I try to contain it. It starts out with a purpose, then finds an alley to run down.
Le sigh.
I love what you do with #WednesdayWalk! It is fun to wander through the different posts as they show off their part of the world and where their wanderings take them. Thank you for hosting it! I hope you are having a great day!
HMMM, well its not so much I called you Eclectic, I think you did
"My apologies for only taking a few pictures and inserting them on a post I changed direction on, I believe they call that eclectic"
and I don't think its a bad thing anyway, I often wander off in all directions when writing a post, even when I have a clear theme with the photos
So far so good, went out early to the supermarket, and saw glorious colors in the sky, but didn't have my camera as it was to cool for me, got my steps in at the mall, found out they open two hours earlier for walkers, and now a quiet day ahead other than getting the booster shot at 4
Haha! You are right! I forgot about that! I wrote it at midnight. :) Most of the Malls open early to give people a safe place to walk in the early hours and warm! They started that years ago and I think it was a great idea. They were there anyway, getting the Mall ready for opening, so it was a nice thing to do and really garnered points with people. The cooler skies seem to give off interesting colors to me. I get more pinks and cotton candy skies, which I would have to believe to be summer skies. The most brilliant skies I have taken are winter skies, even though the summer ones are amazing.
Booster at 4? Good luck. Did you get your regular flu shot yet? Hey, you! You are already way ahead of me. Slow down, you move too fast!
I think it’s a great idea I much prefer outdoor walks with my camera of course but I have to sometimes be sensible lol
But the winter sunrises can be amazing so I may go out occasionally
Yes I have had my flu shot
To be honest not yo my credit being up with the Covid shots one of the family here runs a couple of ambulance companies one if who does the vaccines and he texted us yesterday to come to his place to get the shots
That's right! I think you said Mark does. That's great for you and Lulu!
It’s marks wife’s brother actually
He is doing so well took over the company he worked fir when the owner retired and has started two more related companies he works so hard but with a plan to retire in a few years
I love the look of old knarly trees.
Now THAT is an avalanche of presents if I ever saw one.
I think I see my name on the polka dotted one. :)
I love the old gnarly, twisted old trees too! The Christmas party for the family always looks big - there were always lots of people, except for last year and this year too. Noooo, not yours, it was for a girl named Ellen. :)
I hope you are having a great day! It is gorgeous and sunny - and tomorrow it is going to be in the 70s again! Mazel Tov!
Ellen ?? !! hmmmffff...... some people have all the luck.
It's supposed to get up to 74 here today. It is a sunny blue sky right now !
I'm no Vaca Wednesday.... so it's truly ALL good !
Ah, yes! It is nice at home right now. I hope it lasts! I am glad it is nice for you today! The day is done, but, the fun memories are forever! xo
It is better to not step in front of it in that case. But some desperate people (like me) may try to jump on it. I speak figuratively/metaphorically, of course. My "train" out of the financial discrimination will probably be a sailboat, and I will jump on that train with the help and the support of the Hive blockchain, which also includes you.
I give you some !PIZZA and some !LUV.
Have a nice day. All the best. Greetings from Hungary.
@xplosive(1/1) gave you LUV | wallet | market | connect | <><
Thanks for the luv!
Still the sailboat? I thought you changed your mind?
Your day will come. Actually, it is a good morning for you, but, it is midnight here, so I will be retiring early for a change! I hope you do catch your train. I was hoping maybe your sister would include you to live with here or stay with her for a bit?
Thanks for the Pizza and Luv!!
Good night from Washington, DC!
Almost. But currently I do not see any other better way.
They do not really have physical space, and even if they would, they would not allow my Harris's hawk in the house, and outside is risky, because they have wandering foxes and other predators around, especially in the night. She have a husband and three grown up children and a few dogs and cats. I lived with her for a very short time in 2018 after we had to sell our own house because of the huge debt my brother made, but I slept on the ground on a mattress. It was an emergency. The choice was either that or being homeless.
Either way, I am currently 99% sure that the sailboat will be the proper solution. We will see.
Good night. Sleep well.
Thank you. Still thinking on it. You save in the meantime! :))
Thank you. Still thinking on it. You save in the meantime! :))
Memorial trees are a very beautiful idea. I love that. There is something special about old growth trees.
I really like the idea! I am not sure where it ever began, but, I think it is one of the things I love about Arlington Cemetery. It is a beautiful place with much old growth.
I do love to wander throughout there, even on a snowy, cold day.I hope you are having a great day!
You certainly represent what you have shared today, love. Thanks for showing love to many people even those you do not know. Thanks always dear.
Thanks so much, Sam! @macsamm Hehe! I showed everyone who would look some Love today! :))
Arlington Cemetery always makes me feel pensive.
But Thanksgiving (and Christmas) is coming up!
Are you cooking?
I am!! I have everything but the bird. He will come fresh from the farm Wednesday.
Arlington always makes me pensive, but, I love that place. Are you cooking? I have it down to a science on when to cook what! :)
Thanks for stopping by!
Hello @dswigle, I so much enjoyed your post.
But I am scared, when you said you walk around in the cemetery dropping flowers on your love ones grave. So intimidating. I never done this before.
Christmas will soon come.
You love flowers much.
Thank you for this piece.
Well I visit the graves of people I know in the cemetery, especially my father that day. When I say I dropped flowers, what I really mean is that I lay flowers at their grave. I hope this helps.
Nice selfie photography with love statue and have a nice day for you.
Hehe. Thanks so much. I hope you are having a great day!
What a beautiful image 1st one! So lovely view and serene! ❤️
Wonderful memorial trees and great view of eclipse ring view.
We are curious for #WedensdayWalk post.
Good work my dear lovely friend @dswigle. God bless you.
Thank you, the view was that of a train platform. It was as close to an oncoming train as I could get. :)
I do love Memorial Trees! What a nice idea and the eclipse was a wonderous thing to see and feel the atmospheric change. Thank you for your words! Have a blessed day!
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Thanks for the pizza!
Really old trees become so gnarled, they have character. It's amazing to think about all the stuff they have witnessed.
Thanks for the repost @pixresteemer! Much appreciated!