Surprises

Beyond the arched frame of the condo’s balcony, limbs grow in tangled abandon. Wind wafts through intertwined fading leaves stirring fall’s colors until they float to the dry ground below. The afternoon sun casts long shadowy fingers swaying into each other until they merge into one shape pulsating in summer’s final heat remaining together until the sun drifts below the horizon.

Alive with forest movement in the midst of the city, the surprising scene captures my imagination. And yet there are people whose souls are not stirred and believe to expect nothing in life. According to them, if anything beautiful happens, it’s as rare as love slipping her hands into the gnarled, arthritic grip of the aged prying apart stiff knuckles.

Although I believe in expecting the unexpected, I was happily surprised when a former business associate called this week. A few years ago, she moved out of town just as I thought we might become friends. We will soon add each other into busy days and let each moment unfold. Every day is a treasure and within its bountiful chest lays sparkling nuggets even more beautiful than the rest and can be found when we immerse ourselves in life looking at both the forest and the trees.