Now this is a quiet and peaceful activity.
Photo by Mike Hartley
I don’t do many things anymore, that are quiet. When I was younger I used to ride a bike a good bit. And when at my Uncles camp in upstate New York I’d always spend time out in his rowboat. When I got older I road a motorcycle and while that might not seem like quiet to some of you, it is, believe me. Now its maybe the occasional walk but even those aren’t quiet because it’s a family event.
My Aunt and Uncle’s rowboat in 1969 with me at the helm.
Photo by Shirley Hartley
The day trips I take alone sometimes to Ocean City are quiet except for the music I listen to all day. There are the occasional times when I’m out photographing early morning or late evening where its only the sounds of nature or my footsteps. I don’t feel the need to be alone or have solitude as I once did or lets say as often. Don’t know if that is age or just being blessed with a great family and lots of great friends that I would rather be laughing and enjoying life with.
Then again, my daughter and her husband have some beautiful kayaks that just need a carrier on top of my SUV and we are in business for some quiet time. I’m going to keep that in mind if I need some solitude this summer.
One of my favorite things in life is to just sit alone in a beach chair with the toes in the sand listening to the waves and dozing in and out of consciousness. Either that or a fishing pole in my hand and the waves slapping the boat with the moments of quiet between the taunts of who the better fisherman is. But at most I may do those two activities a week or two out of the year.
Times weren’t always this good and I can remember being depressed and wanting to be alone and was. Like in that rowboat above trying to figure out why my Dad died so young. The quiet helped me think. But again its people who rescue each of us I believe. Each of us needs our solitude and each of us need to be connected to others. Those will vary from year to year and during various stages of your life. But don’t get so involved in solitude that you lose perspective and don’t be so overly connected that you have no peace.
And look at this. I’ve rambled on again and said nothing. Or everything?
It probably doesn’t make a lick of sense being I’ve been up 20 hours. My apologies for the verbal diarrhea, I do like the photos though and they made me think of Quiet. So I will shut up and go to bed.
