Picture Perfect — A Word Poem by Emily

When was the last time you had a special moment in nature? Listened to the birds? Breathed in the lush smell of the underbrush and felt the peace of being away from the traffic, away from the alerts pinging on your cellphone?

When did you last take time to enjoy being outdoors just for the fun and wonder of it all?

These pictures were taken in Australia. Myra and I found ourselves at this bird sanctuary and were treated to a very special opportunity. Looking at these pictures today makes me smile again with the memory of that trip.

And they serve as a reminder that I, too, need to get into the fresh air more often that I currently do.

With all of the conveniences of technology bringing the world into our homes, it is sometimes difficult to pull ourselves out of our normal habits and look for new ways to be entertained. It is easy to be complacent. Often before we know it, loneliness can settle in. We have our routines. We stay home.

We do the same things day after day.

Life gets smaller.

So I ask you today, when was the last time you went outside to watch the birds? 

Ever since I was a boy, I was at home in the woods and on the shorelines of rivers, lakes and oceans in the various places that I have lived. When Myra and I brought our family to Florida in 1978, I discovered a passion for early morning walks with my camera in hand. 

It is impossible to describe the delight I found in the sounds and sights I experienced but I did the best I could to capture some of them on film.

My granddaughter Emily, another true lover of nature, created the narration for this video we made together a few years ago. Thank you, Emily for sharing your talents and inspiring me.