Thursday, June 4, 2009

Remembering the Tao of Goldilocks


The Capitol from Freedom Plaza, fourteen long city blocks up Pennsylvania Ave. Love that super zoom.

I was looking at some mockingbirds sitting way up in the highest branches of the tall trees in Lincoln Park, wondering if they really get, if they can possibly understand, what a great view they have from up there. Surely they can see everything: the capitol, of course or if they face east, I'm sure they can see the Anacostia River snaking its way towards its confluence with the Potomac. I bet they can see George Washington's pyramidal masonic temple across the river in Alexandria. Maybe they can even see the White House from there. If they bother to look, that is. They're birds after all. Do they care about their fabulous view?

Two seconds later it occured to me that compared to Jake, my eyes, gazing out at the world from a modest 5'6" above sea level, have a view to die for. My guess is that Jake never feels any jealousy about my view. Why would he?

There I was, longing for what I don't have, forgetting the blessings of my life just as it is right now, right here. Life is good, and whenever I remember that, I am grateful. Oh yeah!


Jake's eye view.

28 comments:

Lynne said...

I think Jake rather likes his view on the world! He probably feels sorry for you because your are too tall to take in all the smells on the grass, on light poles, on walls, etc.

We have to be happy with our own view on the world because it's what we have! :) It doesn't hurt to dream though ...

Rosaria Williams said...

Yes,Jake gets the near-sight view; you get the longer-sight. How to share is the question.

Joanne said...

"Life is good, and whenever I remember that, I am grateful. Oh yeah!"

Probably the best "view" of all, Reya!

mum said...

there's also the beetle or the ant's view as it climbs up that taaallll blade of grass. Not to mention Jake's superior sense of smell and your superior color sense appreciation of shading, pondering of complex relationships and your place in the scheme of things...hm, let's see, what else?... :-)

enjoy the view, whatever it may be, Reya. (Love the shot of the Capitol.)

Cyndy said...

Nice shot of the Capital! Yeah, Jake probably has his own private world of interesting things to look at down there closer to the ground.

Ronda Laveen said...

Yeah! LOVE the Super Zoom! You've been getting some wonderful shots with it.

Funny, just yesterday I was thinking about needing to do an exercise I haven't done in a long time. A few years back I did Dog Agility with B.B. In agility you direct your dog along an obstacle course with jumps, tires, tunnels, teeter totters, high walks, etc. All of the dogs had objects they loved and others they disliked. The instructor would occasionally have us get down on hands and knees, crawl around and notice the perspective our dogs had on the course. I can not even begin to describe the difference.

Anonymous said...

I hear you on that one. The other day I was quietly complaining to myself that I had no room to put my shoes in the closet. Then I realized, hey, at least I have shoes...and nice ones at that.

Reya Mellicker said...

I bet you do have nice shoes.

I often hold the camera high above my head or close to ground level, just to see. It's a really different world, depending on where the eye is positioned.

But what I have to remember is that I'm not a bird or a tree climber or a cliff dweller ... or a dog, ant or beetle. I'm a human being, no more, no less. Like Goldilocks.

I try to remember. I do.

Nancy said...

Sometimes I have to sit quietly and just focus on the wonderful things in my life - it's so easy to get sidetracked into the negative. Thanks for the reminder.

Verily I go. said...

Hi, it's me the drama queen, we have to talk, please stop by my blog.

Unknown said...

As others have said, the grateful view is good, & it seems like dogs have that too in a way. Of course, Jake's nose opens onto a world we can barely imagine!

Siobhán said...

Wonderful wisdom again Reya.
5' 6" is an excellent viewpoint : )

Merle Sneed said...

You could have another blog altogether with a "Jake Cam". Tie a camera to him and go wild. The world as seen close to the ground.

Amy said...

I try to remember as often as I can, to hunch down to the level of my four year old and look at things from her point of view. It helps me keep some perspective on how big and scary things can be from her point of view. I've also discover that there's a lot I don't see from 5'4" above the ground. We can gain a lot by looking through someone else's eyes, can't we?

Andrea said...

Just think of all the wonderful things Jake can see that we can't!

ArtSparker said...

What a wonderful earnest face that is.

Cindy said...

I love both pictures, and I appreciate the tao of Goldilocks. I made a Goldilocks Soulcollage Card because part of my really identifies with her. Yeah, life is good!

ellen abbott said...

How does that go...? Play the hand you're dealt? No. Oh yeah...bloom where you are planted.

Kelly P said...

Dogs are very photogenic.Looks like the camera likes Jake.Ihave dogs too.Love them every day.12 yr old and a 11yr old.

kbrow said...

Jake's view is super-enhanced with all the smells he can take in. He can smell the masonic pyramid across the river...

On the other hand, my dogs are always trying to get higher, to improve the view. Cricket spends hours on the furniture gazing out the window, and Ella stands on a bench on our deck so she can see into the valley, I think.

Mary Ellen said...

I love the Jake's-eye view - and the expression on his face!

Ronda Laveen said...

To the Mad Texter: Yes, you have shoes. You also have a closet. Blessed be!

Natalie said...

I loved both pics. :D
I especially loved Eileen's comment: " Bloom where you are planted"
Fabulous.xx♥

steven said...

and jake knows stuff we'll never know!!! great shot of the jakester reya - i love dogs smiles and laughs!!
steven

Anonymous said...

Hey Reya! When I taught pre-schoolers I wondered one day what I must look like from their perpective, looking down on them from above, so held a mirror low to reflect that back up to me. Oh man.All chin and nostrils with a booby shelf. Humbling.

Bee said...

I like your Oh yeah!s. They have an actual sound in my head.

(Love that view -- and thought -- of what Jakes sees.)

Pod said...

oh sir jakey!
oh you!
xx

California Girl said...

the world from a dog's POV...We should all take a moment and consider the world from the POV of someone else. We might all have more understanding of one another.