

- Gray Matter of the Modern Brain overloaded on technology
href=”https://kcaptain77.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dscn0915.jpg”> Sunrise on the first full day of summer
It was just one of those days when I felt that I had caught up to where I should be. Up just after the birds at 4:50, on the road to Hampton Beach at 5AM. The lake was draped in mist as warm water touched the overnight cooler air. Awaken to another day in early summer paradise. So much is missed as we rest during the early lit hours. Turkeys were crossing the road, other birds were chirping to the new day and some deer were seen in hay fields. Everything felt new and fresh. On arrival at the shore I easily found a spot to park close to my photo focus of the day. The beach had been groomed and the symmetric lines had hardly a footprint. A small group had gathered to watch the sun rise on the first full day of summer. It was also the start of the third day of working on the Sand Sculptures with the moments of judgment coming in the afternoon. One man was focused on finding treasure in the sand with a metal detector and seemed oblivious to all else around him.
Attending early on the third of three days of work by the artists allowed pictures of art in the creation stage. The tools and some of the box frames and the hard plastic sheets used for designing round rough material to work were left where they had been used the days before. Buckets trowels brushes, shovels and other tools are used to shape the packed sand. Each contestant gets 10 tons of sand to work with over three days. They must work alone. The sand is kept moist with sprays of water and a solution of 1 gallon of Elmers Glue to 5 gallons of water is used to seal the sculpture from wind and other damage.
It is interesting to guess how the finished work will look. Later I will publish a before and after with some surprises. I was fascinated by the creation in sand of a Giant coming out of the sand and holding a replica which holds a replica which holds a replica smaller with each reproduction.
The Sand Giant and close ups of the replicas
Going through the door to another time I find myself 27 years old again in summer.
Twenty Seven Year Old Dreams—Against the Wind
The fish were not coming near our boat yesterday. Perhaps the intensity of my dreams was keeping them away. I used an open ended roll of film and could have taken as many pictures as I wished. I did with my minds eye. Such a reality is felt out on the open sea. My dreams were out there, I could feel them pulling me on as I gathered strength for the storm.
I dreamed of hitting the road to island and mountain sanctuaries of spirit. Today I am on the road from Martha’s Vineyard Island to Jackson NH in the White Mountains. Dreams tempered and shaped by uncomfortable reality that I am rapidly moving toward even greater change. A soul searching vacation thinking about loose ends and trying to make amends to old friends. Sorting myself out in feeling thought and in running the roads and realizing that you just can’t have it all. You just don’t need it all. (Credit this line to Bob Seeger)
My traveling companions on the boat from the island were special people, a juggler and a fool. What eyes on the world. Felt good to meet them, share the view together for a short while. Foggy this morning yet we found light spots of life and laughed. Talked of serious things without being serious about it. The fool is a mirror of life reacting to what he sees and feels helping others to laugh at themselves and stop being so dramatic. Fools and jugglers are masters at getting others to lighten up. Take it easy and lighten up on your load. It’s not that bad if you take it slow, do your best and don’t forget to laugh. Move on in the face of change and uncertainty. I move on down the road to gather my backpack and head for the mountains.
What time is it anyway? What you make of it! Jackson NH, afternoon, it is time for getting my head together. My home customized Chevy Van is my room on wheels and feels so fine. The side door open acts as my window. The ride was smooth and timeless, an open day under high open sky. Listening to the music, taking it all in, learning to put it all together.
Knowing only that what has gone before my eyes this vacation has been beautiful. The realm of possibilities is immense and I became lost in the grandeur of an island dream. The road was open so I took it to the mountains to give ocean and island dreams room to expand. I have got to play my hand. Live free or you do begin to die. Shadow Captain and dark star are moving on and shining thru the fog to see beyond immediate reality. Blend of past present and future as the road and life go on. Balance is hard to maintain as situations shift and sway in the wind. I am holding on yet giving enough to maintain the balance. The summer wind today is clean and free flowing. I can see the love that will be.
Mountain day dream given room to expand brings me back to the island fair in West Tisbury. Such a wonderful parade of people and almost everyone makes an appearance. The island women are so natural and strong in their beauty. The island is reflected in them. They are so fine in country dress and bare feet. My dreams soar and time opens and my picture of the world becomes so close to perfect for a short part of the year. The fair is a celebration before the work of the harvest. It is a celebration of warm energy that has been built up thru the summer months. I was surely lost in the warmth. I could not open up to the possibilities the way wished not in the few days of vacation. Getting there gave me a time for reflection, a time open to looking at what has come to pass trying to shed light on what is ahead. It is a time to look at the whole of your existence in hopes of enhancing your reality. The broader the vision the wider the possibilities. Reflect and be glad for the way ahead. Dreams are never left behind. We are always moving toward them. We must do what we can, learn lessons and do some more. The pieces turn up as you go. Shifting and sorting, piecing it all together takes time.
Take it easy, take your time, have patience! The best is ahead but it will only be the best if we work towards making it that way every day. The road goes on, pieces of dreams to be found and mountain daydreams to give them room to expand.
© Ken Pothier
Written yesterday and today