Country Mouse Monday: watch, notice, see

There are moments in my Country Mouse existence when I'm struck dumb by what I see, mesmerized, hypnotized by the unfolding simple beauty.

I freeze and watch it unfold, almost afraid to breathe, certainly afraid to miss it.

Moments like yesterday, sitting on the stoop by the front door next to which some poppies unaccountably chose to grow.

Yesterday was their day to bloom and I sat there, phone in hand, taking photos of bees at play in the pollen, rolling, rolling. taking advantage of that flower's single day.

And along came Mr. Burns.

Because I was there, because I was watching, paying attention, so now I have this image that captures all that I love so much, the very elements that compose my life.  That was too much to wish for. 

Yet here it is, another gift of the garden.

But mostly a gift of paying attention.

I attended an all-day writing workshop on June 1st with Cheryl Strayed, the author of Wild and other works.  I'll be sharing more about that day soon, but yesterday I kept hearing her say:

To succeed as a writer, you have to really pay attention to your life and make connections where you can.  Notice and make the connections.

It occurred to me yesterday, sitting on the stoop watching Burns watch the bees, that this is a huge part of the Country Mouse life: the paying attention, the noticing, and then the connections come.  When the perfect image marches across the screen, you're ready, you're looking at that precise moment: it's yours.

Pay attention, notice the details of your life. What will you make of them?

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