- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
PRESENCE
Did you know that the snow absorbs sound, especially fresh, fluffy snow? It does. My understanding is that the structure of fresh snow is highly porous, with many air pockets trapped between snowflakes. These air pockets scatter and absorb sound waves, reducing their ability to travel.
This is why snowy landscapes often feel quieter – sounds are muffled, creating a calm, almost serene environment.
Lying here in this unfamiliar yet cozy bed breathing in that serene silence, wondering if there was a nice snowfall outside. That question ran through my mind as I remembered that one snow storm up at Penn State.
Penn State, so many years ago now, well I woke up early one day during graduate school – it had to have been 3am. The sky was still dark and the street lights were still on. Everyone in my college apartment was still asleep. Nothing was moving around outside either, no car driving by in the distance, no other student going early to the gym – nothing.
I loved that type of silence – like a deep internal sense of inner peace.
If I had to describe it, it would be like the beginning of the movie “Contact”. The silence as we went further and further out into space – that outer space silence that envelops you. Even if you were to scream you wouldn’t hear it.
This is my favorite time of the year. It’s the first of December and I’ve decided to rent a cabin on a lovely harbor, and hopefully somewhat quiet as well. I have thought about doing this for years, renting a cabin for New Year’s Eve, away from all the noise to reflect on the year and plan the next.
My plan was to rent a cabin, on the coast of North Carolina, for a week but this is different. I have a wonderful story to tell so I have rented this beautifully chic cabin for the whole month. Plus, I wanted some snow, it had been years since I was able to enjoy any type of snowfall. Addison, Maine does not have snow like the rest of the state but it was enough for me. I was excited and happy because on top of having a beautiful cabin, it started to snow on my way up here. I brought enough food and necessities for two months, so I should be good to go.
The description on Vrbo was spot on. The cabin had 3 bedrooms, the one with the best view would be my writing room. I was surrounded by modern furnishings, a chef’s kitchen, and my favorite, a library. The views of the Eastern Harbor were amazing and I am looking forward to all the adventures in Acadia National Park, Village Green, Schoodic Peninsula and Cadillac Mountain. Don’t get me started on all the restaurants nearby.
Let me go ahead and get up now.
Looking out the window at all the freshly fallen snow. I smiled and thought I deserve a nice hot cup of hot chocolate. I’ll wrap up and drink it on the front porch. I want to enjoy the snow before I start writing.
Queen’s Journey
The Storyteller
I want to tell you a story. A story of a mature yet spirited Black Queen’s journey into the autumn of her life.
I’ve known this Queen all my life.
She told me of her journey, or evolution as she likes to call it, because ‘there’s no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you’, you know that quote from Maya Angelou.
I’ve added my personal flair to her story because I also believe that life does not end when you turn fifty. People in their fifties do not want to retire and never leave their homes. They don’t want to stop learning, nor stop doing things. People in their fifties want to enjoy life and slow down, only a little, to take it all in.
They also want to find love and have sex, they want to travel and experience the world with all the varieties it has to offer. Some want to continue to contribute to this world and others want to finally focus on themselves, for once.
All-in-all life does not end when you turn fifty and in some interesting ways, it’s just the beginning.
As I mentioned above, I’ve known my friend Katie all my life. She’s an energetic, adventurous, forever curious and beautiful spirit, who had an amazing ability to read others.
She wanted to make it known that she hates to hear people calling her “quiet”, “introvert”, “bubbly”, and “a good listener”. Oh and how could I forget, “good girl” and “naive”. Once you get to know Katie and she feels comfortable & safe with you, you see her true self and it’s anything but quiet or introverted. It’s energetic, talkative, bold, fun and sometimes bossy, or better yet leadership qualities. Leadership qualities as her mentor once said of her.
She started telling me her story by talking about her time growing up as a Military Brat. Looking back over her years she is grateful to have experienced all the many different places, some people never leave their hometown.
At the same time society’s view of African American girls & Women can wear one’s soul, to the point where you forget who you truly are.
Katie had been questioning her conditioned beliefs, which are established between the ages of two and eight, in doing so she saw her brilliance and knew that she deserved the best.
Other black Women didn’t have the added burden of having to change (work on) any ‘conditioned beliefs’... having grown up in white spaces Katie realized the difference in their and her experience. She has gone a long way in changing those beliefs.
Who am I, to tell her story, you may ask. Well that doesn’t matter right now, I just hope I do it justice. It’s important to hear Katie’s story and take from it what you may. But do know that Katie has given me permission to tell you this. You can call me Storyteller for now. I like that because that is one of my passions, which may be another reason Katie came to me.
Written By: Me
Edited By: ChatGPT
Image By: ChatGPT (prompt & creation)
Comments