Moon Squared

I've found the creative act of drawing to be soothing, as well as rewarding. I don't expect to rival Van Gogh, though I do find satisfaction from expressing myself in this way.

A few years ago, when examining an aerial photo of an abandoned Indian village along a dry river bank (Anasazi, perhaps), the remaining building walls formed a grouping of rough squares, and an idea emerged.

What if all we could see were the walls from above? Since that time I've created a number of drawings using that theme.

This moon drawing is eighth in the "Moon Squared" series. If you've not seen one of my "squared" drawings before, look for the pun!

Hint: I have an engineering bent.

Bottom line: You possess the ability to create, too. (We humans are hard-wired that way.)

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* This post updated from its original which appeared on Primate's Big Adventures.

Photo Credit: Connard Hogan

Joining the Penguins

Bottom line: We humans are hard-wired to explore, rivaling the curiosity of felines. (Better yet, we can do more with what we discover because we have thumbs.)

Using my thumb as Janet and I explore a tiny portion of Antarctica.

As a boy I never thought I'd visit the places I've been in my lifetime, certainly not Antarctica! I worked to keep mt expectations within reason, according to my thinking. A trip here, a trip there added up . . . and then I found myself in Antarctica. Though some might call it "a dream of a life time," I'll keep truckin' as long as I'm capable. Forward thinking, that's the orientation to develop.

My wife, Janet, and I have enjoyed traveling the world together and over the years have taken a number of cruises.

I'd nurtured the dream of a trip to Antarctica for a few years and though a splurge, when we discussed travel to the southern continent, we decided to "go for it." We chose Hurtigruten (Norwegian) for this cruise over the Christmas/New Year holidays '18-'19 and haven't regretted that decision.

Our ship's captain navigated us around the worst of approaching bad weather on our two crossings of the Drake Passage, considered the most dangerous waters in the world. Then, we toured a portion of the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Using "zodiac boats," staff transported us to and from our island visits and for close-up inspections of ice formations and animal activity, such as feeding whales. We toured research stations. We visited several Adelie Penguin colonies, during their hatching/fledgling season, where we enjoyed close encounters . . . if the penguins so chose.

They weren't disturbed by our presence.

Roughly, the Antarctic Circle became our southern most latitude.

At times I looked at the stark horizon of ice and mountains and longed to trek to the pole, to go and be where Amundsen, Shackleton, Scott and Ross had gone, and where only a few of all humanity has ever been.

The best part of travel for me is witnessing the wonders of the world firsthand, meeting different people, learning about other cultures, and most of all experiencing my shared humanity and living existence . . . as an earthling.

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Photo Credit: Connard Hogan

COVID Ode

Months into the COVID-19 lock-down, a realization struck me one day as if I'd been challenged with a Zen koan. Feeling isolated, though happily married, I found solace in reminding myself of my connection with all living things, and beyond that everything in the universe. I consider that my spirituality. Bottom line: you're part of the big picture and can't be otherwise (regardless of what you think, feel or do). I encourage you to kindle an awe of the universe, and through that, feel or find your connection, too! I offer the following "poem."

As COVID “stay at home” gnaws at my psyche,

And boredom whittles down my enthusiasm,

I grieve the spontaneous interaction with others,

Zoom a pale substitute for handshakes and hugs.

Then, songbirds trumpeting their melodies,

Or an owl calling through the darkness,

Reminds me I’m connected to all else,

Separated only by my thinking.

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* This post updated from its original which appeared on Primate's Big Adventures.

Photo Credit: Untitled by Greg Rakozy - Unsplash.com