January 15

In 1857 Thoreau writes:

We are ordinarily in a state of desperation; such is our life ... But let us hear a strain of music, we are at once advertised of a life no man has told us of. Suppose I try to describe faithfully the prospect which a strain of music exhibits to me. The field of my life becomes a boundless plain, glorious to tread, with no death or disappointment at the end of it. All meanness and trivialness disappear. I become adequate to any deed. No particulars survive this expansion; persons do not survive it. In the light of this strain there is no thou nor I. We are actually above ourselves.

I wonder what strain he was listening to?

One morning I was feeling low and the song "Bare Necessities" starting playing on the radio. Such a silly song but it really has a lot to say. I ended up laughing when it was over and wondered what I was so bothered about earlier. I suppose that is what Thoreau is getting at.

I recently listened to the audio book "Life" by Keith Richards, very entertaining and informative. However, whenever I listen to the Rolling Stones now the songs have completely new meaning. Learning the history of their lives and how songs came to be gives them this entirely new meaning and enjoyment. A bit like hearing them for the first time.

I digress, back to Thoreau's journal entry, I love the last part "we are above ourselves." That is what really touched me reading this this morning.

New Year's Day 2011

1.1.11
Went to Walden for the new year day hike. Attempted to take pictures of living historian Richard Smith, but he proved to be too busy greeting "souls" at the replica house at Walden Pond State Reservation. Smith often portrays Henry David Thoreau, transcendentalist, writer, poet, environmentalist, and of course-- lover of nature!

The event was very successful, although not conducive to one who wants to enjoy the solitude of nature. The temperature an unusual balmy 50 degrees more than likely had a great deal to do with the popularity of the event. I did manage a few shots of the pond with amazing ice floes. Young children were standing and jumping on the ice testing it's strength. A group of "polar bear" participants broke through the ice and jumped into the icy Walden waters. Busy, crowded day, but any day at Walden Pond is a great day to me.

A young woman gave me the sweetest compliment as I waited for the hike to begin, she approached me and said "you are just gorgeous!" At first it shocked and surprised me, because I don't see myself as one anyone notices, let alone to the point I would affect them in such a way. After I recovered I told her it was the sweetest thing anyone ever said to me. It's really something when someone takes the time to compliment others.