Seven Minutes in Heaven
A realization occurred to me on the last leg of our walk today, after another experience worthy of sharing. Our outings aren’t simply so we can get exercise (me), sniff other dog’s butts (Blossie…in case you couldn’t figure that out!) or write a blog post, though we gratefully reach some or all of those goals.
Most days, in the back of my mind, I await the muse to tap me on the shoulder. Today though, it hit me: something else is going on. Blossie doesn’t just impart wisdom on our walks, yet that has been known to regularly occur. And I don’t simply journey out into the world to stave off the “quarantine fifteen,” though God knows I need that. What actually happens is this: Our walks invite us to be present and get a glimpse into the Mystery.
We strolled by the house next to Timmy’s (“He’s my favorite boyfriend”) and as I glanced into the back yard, I spotted a Mallard duck couple on the lawn waddling toward a grouping of purple Japanese Iris, Sword Ferns and native grasses. Being a sentimental duck lover, I gave Blossie a “whoa Nellie” so I could enjoy the scene as it unfolded. My eyes followed their very intentional march and I was delighted when the clearing revealed a modest pond surrounded by lush, green mossy rocks. Score!! The footprint of the pond was maybe three by four feet, pretty small for duck synchronized swimming, but not a problem for these adaptable city ducks! For a moment my view of them was obscured and then…. there they were paddling around in their pond, softly quacking to each other in that duck chuckle that tickles me every time. I felt a palpable wave of happiness wash over me. These ducks had found a treasure in the middle of the city….their very own Shangri-La. Rather than a quick “no thanks” and continuing a search for something grander, they celebrated their good fortune and spoke their gratitude to the Universe. Blossie and I felt like guests in their sacred space.
The beauty of coming upon this simple, yet meaningful scene, is yet another reminder to pay attention. I am awestruck and halted in my tracks when I have these experiences. Moments like this are easily missed when I walk absentmindedly, worrying about the pandemic… do I have enough money? …when can I get my roots colored? You know what I mean. Watching my feathered friends enjoy their bounty was, for me, a moment of deep serenity and peace with the world.
Before we began our walk, I happened to notice 33 minutes left on the timer for roasting the cauliflower in the oven. There were 6 minutes left when we returned. Do you remember the game “Seven Minutes in Heaven?” It was a kissing game we played at parties when I was a teenager. The idea of the game was you go into a dark closet with another person for seven minutes and make out…thus Heaven. It was pretty delicious for 14-year-old me, especially when I got lucky enough to snag the good kisser. When I realized Blossie and I had been gone for 27 minutes, it struck me that today our outing was a doorway to the sublime, the profound… otherwise known as Twenty Seven Minutes in Heaven.
