"The sharp knife of a short life

I've had just enough time..."


- "If I Die Young" The Band Perry


I see Beauty in many things. And like the ghosts that only speak to you if you notice them, they tell me wondrous tales. With my camera and my thoughts, I captured these as faithfully as I can to share with you. And by doing so, they gave me the reasons. And though the thousand reasons may not all be sweet and some indeed bitter; they are still reasons to live. Come to think about it, that is Life, isn't it?

Wednesday 26 December 2012

Reflection On A Quiet Christmas



I've had just enough time to...   enjoy a quiet Christmas

Taken in the park on Christmas day

This Christmas, I decided to do something different. Under a cool, overcast sky; I took a walk in the park and have it all to myself. Everyone is out there somewhere celebrating Christmas or visiting friends or be just at home with their family. I took a long, slow walk playing out the year that had gone before and relived that long journey as I walked, alone with my thoughts. I liked doing that sometimes. Long walk in lonely places and nothing was lonelier than the park today.

I chose a bench to sit down and savour a different feel to this Christmas. Surrounded by trees and the songs of birds, there was not a Christmas tree or blinking lights in sight nor any replays of Christmas songs. But I could not get away that easily. Among the greens, white Christmas rose to the surface and I could not get rid of it. So I might as well change a few words and sing a few lines.

I’m reflecting on a quiet Christmas
Not like any I used to know
Where the dewdrops glisten and I listen
To the birds singing in the trees

I’m reflecting on this quiet Christmas
With every Christmas wish I made
‘May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be divine’



A couple having their marriage photos in the park


I thought about the miracle this Christmas. A friend had a stroke and internal bleeding in his brain. A young man with an unemployed wife and a young child. What will become of them? The doctor told the wife to take him home and ‘get ready’. Within days, he is out from bed and moving around apparently on the way to full recovery. We are hopeful and fearful at the same time but each day is a blessing and a miracle.

After enough reflection and recharging of my soul, I went home to take a bath but decided to go back and took a shot to share my quiet Christmas on a day when I do nothing and yet felt strangely fulfilled. The bench I sat on was now taken up by a young couple with cans of coke, snacks and a portable radio. The scene I wanted to shoot was now taken by a couple taking their marriage photos in the park. I smiled at the change of the situation though it denied me my shot. So I went to another part of the park to take a different shot which is the one you saw. On the way back to the car, I saw the marriage couple going up the stone bridge and shot them. I was so engrossed in what I did that I did not take note where I was standing and a large weaver ant crawled up my leg and bit my upper thigh. With an instinctive flick of my hand, I sent it to Ant’s heaven.  

It was just an ordinary day in the park. It was also Christmas. Nothing happened yet a lot of things did. Even in reflecting, we should not overdo it. So I walked back, satisfied with how I spent my quiet Christmas. “Merry Christmas and May All Your Christmases Be As Nice.”

_______






5 comments:


  1. Sunciti _ Sundaram's Images + Messages
    Greenity Serenity And Quietitude. N♪ღ♪*¨¨*•♪ღ♪*•.¸¸¸.•*¨¨*•♪ღ♪*•.¸¸.•*¨¨*•♪ ღ♪*•.¸¸¸.•*
    M░E░R░R░Y░★░C░H░R░I░S░T░M░A░S
    ♪ღ♪*¨¨*•♪ღ♪*•.¸¸¸.•*¨¨*•♪ღ♪*•.¸¸.•*¨¨*•♪ ღ♪*•.¸¸¸.•*
    Fantastic photo!. We Like It Dear Friends
    Wish You And Yours The Best In Life,
    Happy Christmas And A Sea Of Prosperity In 2013
    Warmest Greetings From , Sundaram And Annamature At It;s Original Best. Well done My Friend/

    ★ΞSSΞ®®Ξ and ineedathis added this photo to their favorites.

    ineedathis
    I love that bridge, great framing with those trees on either side!
    I hope you had marvelous Christmas!

    nikolaos p.
    Very beautiful! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete

  2. ★ΞSSΞ®®Ξ and Onasill added this photo to their favorites.

    Onasill
    Magnificent capture. Great setting for a wedding.. Compliments

    sethph88
    excellent image!!!!!!!!!

    ★ineedathis added this photo to his favorites.
    Sorry in the morning I am in a hurry for work, I missed this one,
    It must be beautiful ceremony with all the greenery around you,
    Lovely image Thou!
    Thank you my friend!

    ★娜 娜☂Nana added this photo to her favorites.
    So Romantic! Beautiful wedding capture!!

    Eyemdreaming
    Always nice being able to share your thoughts and your travels through your photo essays.

    ana_lee_smith
    They have to go up the steps separately? Perhaps the final vows are to be taken at the top. The bride has a very elaborate dress & her pink bouquet & headdress beautifully echo the flowers on either side of the steps. Interesting to see a traditional male wardrobe for marriage that is not familiar to me. I'm glad to hear that your decisive choice of how to spend Christmas day brought such satisfaction, thou. One must follow one's heart & instincts of what is needed to placate the emotional stress that can be this time of year. All the best to you. May the new year bring good health & continued satisfaction in all the choices you make in 2013.

    ★ana_lee_smith and zneppi --- ړײ) added this photo to their favorites.

    zneppi --- ړײ) (15
    What a wonderful image!
    I love your hidden perspective.

    ReplyDelete

  3. ★Onasill added this photo to his favorites.
    A breath taking view....well executed capture. Compliments.

    sethph88
    superb !!!!!!

    ishratzakiasultana
    A good enough idea to recharge yourself! Sometimes 'thoughts' become the best (and only) friends. Thanks for sharing this tranquil beauty!

    henrhyde (gill)
    Nice to be alone --at times .
    Beautiful and serene image.

    ★Gabriele Dalla Porta added this photo to his favorites.
    Immagine fiabesca, complimenti !!

    ★oola * added this photo to her favorites.
    i have never seen such a beautiful bridge... greenery over the whole of it...
    wonderful...peaceful shot...
    smiles

    Andrew 62
    this is a beautiful scene ... as though the trees are bowing in reverence
    glad you took the opportunity to enjoy the day your way
    seasons greetings
    thanks for your visits and thoughtful words of encouragement
    looking forward to more great photos in 2013

    ★娜 娜☂Nana added this photo to her favorites.
    Perfect and wonderful captured !
    I like the a quiet lake ... I could sit back and enjoy : )

    娜 娜☂Nana
    Sweet Night!! :))

    Eyemdreaming
    Lovely prose set to the cadence of the old favorite Christmas song...capturing your quiet reflections on Christmas Day.
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you my friend!

    ★i_still_believe_in_u added this photo to their favorites.

    i_still_believe_in_u
    gorgeous tones & what a serene natural perspective!!

    The Visual Poet
    Wonderful! Best Wishes!
    ★The Visual Poet added this photo to her favorites.

    augphoto
    Fantastic composition.

    ★Yasmin de light - on and off added this photo to her favorites.
    A beautifully tranquil capture Thou and I love your version of the Christmas song. It looks like it was a quiet and 'Green' christmas too. I am sure many people are also looking for a quiet reflective time after the big build up to christmas and all the work and preparation involved in it. And by the way there wasn't any snow here where I am either : ))

    ReplyDelete
  4. _______________./\.
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    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very beautiful! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete

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