Inspiration strikes and sizzles like water on a hot skillet. Words form freely and pour forth upon the page like a torrent of refreshing summer rain. Cooling, soothing and oh so welcome after the days heat. The promise of more to come is like the lightning and the thunder, one faithfully following the other.
Would that it were always so. Truth is, inspiration strikes me far less frequently than the lightning has struck this day in early autumn. And the words do not always pour forth. Rather they come with coaxing, like a shy animal, afraid for too much attention. Become too insistent, too demanding and they flee for safer territory. Wary, wondering, worrying. Whispering, "What does she want? What does she want?"
The exigencies of life interfere. The clothes dryer signals that it is ready to be emptied, and it is lost. Train of thought as fragile as a train of soap bubbles leaving the little ring with nothing but a breath to birth them. Living for mere seconds and then gone. Beautiful for the moment and then lost for all time. Like a thought; soft and light and so fragile.
Autumn. Fall. That time between summer's fiery immediacy and winter's quiet contemplation. My most favorite season. And the rain todayindescribable now. The moment lost. The feeling fled was one of sadness and joy mixed. Looking out at the world, wet and fresh and cool, I felt whole. Black and white, good and bad. The hummingbirds fly even in the rain when other birds sit patiently in the trees waiting for the downpour to end. Eternally hungry hummingbirds. Satisfying their needs no matter what. Tisking, always tisking, as if to say, "We don't approve, we don't approve."
The rain has ended and the breeze is cool and fresh with the smells of plants and light and life. The small things come forth again. A tiny lizard does push-ups on the walkway. The robins cock their heads first one way then the other listening for worms that have come up near the surface of the earth to grasp at the little bit of moisture. The worms do not think, "Eat me," but that is what happens. The robins, lightning swift, poke their beaks into the moist earth to grab the prize. Easy dinner.
This brief autumn rain is a crisp counterpoint to the dull heat, a leftover of summer that is soon gone. Before I know it, it will be all winter clothes and flannel sheets once more. But now, it is the in-between-time. The time when anything is possible and all things happen. When I feel as if I could fly. When the leaves fall and the trees' bare bones and stark beauty are revealed. When the sunflowers give forth their bounty and the last of summer's flowers start to wane. When the taking in begins, and the settling down. Just before the long sleepy time that is winter. Perfect. I wish that fall would never end
Dianne Lehmann is a jewelry designer who has been in business since January of 2000. Her interest in designing and manufacturing jewelry goes back beyond that to 1994. It took her many years of trying various creative outlets to finally figure out that making jewelry is where she could really shine. Dianne began with simply stringing beads onto cable and has progressed from there. She is now an accomplished lapidary (cuts and polishes stones) and silversmith. Dianne and her husband, Bernd, live in northern Arizona and both love to hike. Dianne can not help but pick up rocks (they are her first love) and some of these find their way into her jewelry. Dianne makes one-of-a-kind pieces that she hopes give people as much joy to view as she gets from the making of them. If you like, you may view her work at http://www.syzygyjewelry.com
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Wow Dianne-you certainly were inspired by the down pour. This was beautiful--it had my mind racing in many directions. I love fall as well, the crisp cool mornings with sunrise that blows my mind everytime I see it and the beauty of white puffy clouds lining the sky. Thanks for a relaxing read. It was poetry. God bless ! Teresa
Hi Dianne. You say you wish Fall would never end and I wish this article would never end -- your words brought alive all of my senses and your descriptions was that of a Disney movie -- great piece - thanks and Autumn is my favorite season as well only we don't get much of it here in Charleston...
Thank you for reading. Fall is short here, too. It's probably our shortest season at 5,000 feet in central Arizona. It's funny too. Almost as if Mother Nature flips the switch on the first day of autumn and the weather gets cooler and crisper over night. But then she gets impatient for winter and just can't wait and about a month later, flips that switch again. We occasionally get snow in the middle of October!
Dianne, I agree with Teresa: it is poetry, and a "relaxing read" as well. You write very well. Stay inspired even when it's not autumn or fall. Keep typing it up and pasting it here. ~mogama~
Thank you. As I said in another response, I'm not really sure where this one came from. But I will see if I can find that spot and tap into it a little more often. But really, I think that the moment was just perfect and everything fell into place according to some divine plan. Isn't life wonderful!
Beautifully well written, Dianne. I loved this peice. I love the autumn. We have so many beautiful colors down our country lane at this time of year--although, the turns haven't started turning as early this year. We had so much rain all summer that everything has been green longer than usual.
Thank you for reading it. Rain is good and the colors will change eventually. I spent a large part of the day outside painting trim on the house. But any reason to be out of doors this time of year is welcome. I love it!
Bravo! Bravo! I was swept away into the fantasy world of your inspirational piece. I loved it. Those moments of inspiration are just like the weather you described. 10 STARS for you Dianne!
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