It was just a few minutes past six, the kitties were all taken care of and running free in the darkness outside. I had just finished my frosted krispies and my coffee was patiently waiting for my first sip.
I sat at my PC and read the news and this really annoying mosquito buzzed past my ears a couple of times already and I was ready to kill him … if only I could see him.
So, I made a decision. I could either sit here and hopefully commit mosquito murder before he managed to suck me dry, or I could grab my virgin coffee and head for the lake.
I didn’t have a minute to spare because sunrise would be at 6:59 and it was now 6:09 so the very latest I could get there for twilight shots would be 6:29.
Decision made, it was the fastest I had moved all week and by 6:15 I was in the car racing towards Lake Parker, faithful coffee by my side.
It was an anxious drive, wishing for green lights and hoping the sun might hold off for me for just a few extra minutes.
Important lights refused to cooperate, so I cheated the system and took right turns that I mightn’t normally take.
This shot was taken at the penultimate light, so you can see how the gods were tempting me!
I think I reached my spot at exactly 6:29 and with rattled nerves, climbed from the car and got my first shot almost immediately.
It was a lovely sunrise and worth the trip and I hope you like the images at the end of the blog. There is even one that I combined 13 images (manually, I might add) to show the flight of a lone osprey that graced the early morning skies in search of his breakfast.
Enjoy!
Anyway, returning home afterwards I was arguing with myself about part of my decision process while I was still sat at my desk.
In that “go, no-go” moment, I questioned why would I go to such trouble for “just another sunrise”. I mean, I have shot sunrises millions of times before (slight exaggeration) and heading to Lake Parker for yet another one just seemed a bit silly.
It was a finely balanced decision and in truth it came down to a simple 5 mg in favor of going.
What’s he on about now, I hear you ask. Well a mosquito typically weighs 5 mg and without his intervention on the decision process, it might well have been a lazy “stay at your desk” resolution.
In any event, driving home I was a bit annoyed at myself for even daring to coin the phrase “just another sunrise” as part of my argument.
There is no such thing as just another sunrise. Big of small, they are all special gifts to start a day with.
But as humans, we get easily spoiled and take such wonders for granted. Floridians see so many sunrises, it won’t surprise me if half the people I send this link to don’t even bother to check it out.
“I mean, how many stupid sunrise shots does he think we can look at. For god sake! Martha, how do we block incoming emails again?”
It is a dismal trait … spoiled.
There are few that compete with it for being more disappointing.
We quickly devolve to take almost everything for granted until one day it is taken away from us.
It can be a taste, a feeling, a person, or even life itself.
Taking people for granted is something that catches almost all of us out. Our parents are always there until they’re not.
One day we wake up and we are orphans. What would we give just to have one more day with Mam and Dad? The answer to that question is more painful than you can imagine, if you haven’t yet felt it.
So, I guess my message today is a very simple one. Take nothing for granted because there is no guarantee it will still be there tomorrow. Equally, there is no guarantee you will be there either.
… just a thought!
