African Dawn
He does it every morning, this morning was no exception! I hate it, I am not a morning person, at least not until I have had my tea or coffee, it varies, I don’t have a fixed morning intake.
So, what was different about this morning then, you may wonder. Bleary eyed and barely conscious I let the Rottweiler out for his morning ablutions, the only one of my dogs who seems not to be able to restrain himself until everyone wakes to their own circadian rhythms.
We don’t have a great view from our house, if it had a second story we might, but we don’t. However we are on a hill and as such the houses below us do allow some view other than dull vibracrete garden walls and hideous backyard downpipes.
Our front door faces a south easterly direction and is a short, mostly rural, distance from the waves that lap the beautiful shoreline. I often wish the car was not securely locked in the garage so I could easily leap into it and drive the one or two kilometers to the beach to have an unhindered view of the sunrises. This morning was a particularly beautiful one, I managed to blindly insert the camera batteries and get it started, considering I could barely see without my glasses I did a fairly good job of setting the date and time too, day was right, time was only an hour later than the actual time.
06h30, barely ten days since the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and already the daylight hours have increased significantly enough for me to pick up on it without having to check any applicable websites.
I took these photographs looking to the east, the sun had not yet broken the horizon and only its warm glow penetrated the passing night sky, the shadow was moving westwards towards America, where that continent was already in slumber and I have no doubt that same sun was casting an equally impressive glow of sunset over Australasia as it was heading into tonight.
Yes, if you hadn’t guessed it, the rhythm of the earth and planets is something I love. Its constancy comforts me and whether we realise it or not, it binds us. Our significance pales in comparison with the sheer magnitude and beauty of that which surrounds us, that which gives us life.
P.S. I forgot I had written this and when I found it I realised it was out of time / sync, but decided to share it nevertheless. I wrote this blog on July 3, 2010 at about 15h41 and my initial complaint is now a gaping void in my life, because a short three days later on July 6, 2010 my Rottweiler, who brought love, light and joy into my life, passed away tragically at only five and half years old; and I realised, yet again, that even the things we tire of and complain about are fundamentally important and secretly gratifying to us because in their absence, we are forever changed and not always for the happier.
I am so sorry for your loss Andrea, I do remember reading about the hours of waiting and how painful that was for you.
Like you I love the african sunrise and sunsets. I don't know if it is my imagination but the sunsets and sunrises seem to be more spectacular over water and or mountains!
What spoils th fun for me is ensuring that I don't get bitten by mosquitoes!
Sorry to hear your news Andrea, I also have Rottweillers and much appreciated your advice when I was getting used to them
Thank you Sarah, it is horrible. They are truly misunderstood and beautiful dogs. He was such a special and lively presence in our lives, we still can't get accustomed to him not being around.
It's very difficult seeing our other dogs wondering where he is and I have learned that in future I must let them see their friends so that they too can mourn the loss. Our labrador gets excited as if she expects us to be going to fetch him each time we go to the car, she is always looking around for him in the car too and nothing we do seems to settle her. Another lesson learned for me. This after discovering many years ago that a mother and pup never forget each other either…. We often assume too much due to our own inability to communicate with our pets.
Thank you so much Ida xx
Those sunsets and sunrises are somehow unique, carrying their own special sounds and smells, like the Fish Eagles or Hadeda Ibis, ocean or frost, what never ceases to amaze me is how the region and the season magically change the hues. And yes, those blasted mosquitoes!!! LOL Thank goodness, where I am, we don't get the malaria mossies!!!
What a beautiful, compelling post, Andrea. Thank you so much for sharing it all and special sympathies for your loss.
We too had Rottweiler with a gorgeous nature. Last week our two German Shepherd puppies arrived, to a good deal of consternation from our older Shepherd and cat. Your words are a wake-up call, to enjoy all the time that we have together, rather than rueing the inevitable challenges of puppyhood
Thank you again, also for the lovely photo's!
Thank you so much Naomi. I am certain you'll enjoy those puppies, they creep into our hearts so quickly. I must be the only person I know, but I love puppy breath and all the furry, yappy, nippy stuff that comes with it