see a sunrise

I finally saw my first sunrise over the Atlantic in Virginia Beach, VA at 5:56 AM this morning. I didn’t realize how fast it goes… all of a sudden it was just there, and I could literally see it moving. Very cool, and very glad I was able to drag myself out of bed this morning and drive the 20 minutes it takes to the ocean from where I’m staying!

I’d actually changed my mind about getting up to do this this morning, but around 5:30 I needed to go to the bathroom. So I got up and thought I’d just take a peek out the front window to see how things looked.

The sky was on fire, a deep pink where the clouds had wandered across and a beautiful gold closer to the horizon. With such a spectacular sight on offer, I couldn’t resist.

So I dragged up a chair to the front window and watched the pink disappear and the gold grow. Eventually, I realised that I wouldn’t be able to see the sun itself when it came up from where I was sitting, so I sat on my front doorstep.

Even though the colours were entrancing, I found myself impatient for a glimpse of the sun itself. Seeing it appear over the horizon was definitely the highlight and the pure gold put the gold tint I’d seen in the sky to shame. It became easy to understand why people used to worship the sun. I watched it until it grew too bright for me to look at directly.

I found it hard to tear myself away, but eventually I had breakfast and went back to bed. I felt very at peace when I woke up again and I think it was the perfect way to start December.

Made an usuccessful attempt at this this morning. I got up at 5:15am and took a look out the window. There was cloud cover over the sky except for a narrow band that was clear over where the sun should come up.

So I put on a jumper and a coat, took some of my remaining raspberries and climbed onto the roof with the aid of a ladder. Heights make me very nervous, so I was well and truly awake by the time I got to the top. I settled in and watched the sky lighten.

And watched, and watched. There was a great view of the neighbourhood and what I noticed most were the birds. First the noise as they woke up and sang to each other. Then they were flying about, at eye level! So many different kinds—galahs, grass parrots, magpies, sparrows, minor birds, even a cockatoo. It was funny to watch the galahs try and sit on the phone cables. Every time a new one would land, it tipped the ones already sitting there over until they were hanging upside down.

And waited. For the scorching hot weather we’ve had lately, it was VERY cold this morning. I progressively got more cold, tired and sore until I finally decided to give it up. There’d been no change on the horizon for quite some time and I was beginning to give up hope there would be. So I climbed down—very nervously. When I got inside, I discovered I’d been up there for an hour and a half. I ended up going back to bed.

I’ll try again tomorrow, but not from the roof. I think my perfectionist tendencies are starting to get out of hand and it’s not worth the trouble. So I’ll get up much later this time and watch it from my front doorstep.

he he he, seeing the sunrise over the ocean in brasil as the dj continues to play reggae and people are still drinking, smoking and dancing around the bon fire …. welcome to the new day!

what to do next? go for a swim of course!!!!

I saw my first sunrise for the year on Tuesday. It wasn’t quite the event I’d hoped for. I had a lot to do that day and my mind was constantly going over it, trying to figure out how to cram everything into as little time as possible- probably the reason I was up so early in the first place. As a result I didn’t appreciate it as much as I felt it deserved.

I still found it quite a beautiful experience, however. I took my breakfast outside and sat on my doorstep to watch it. It was lovely and still, even if my mind wasn’t. No human noises, but plenty of birds- galahs, cockatoos, magpies. I ever heard some crickets chirping away. There was a thick bank of clouds just above the horizon which looked stunning in pinks and golds, as the time drew closer. I could still see the sun through the gap though when it finally rose. It made me smile to see the sunshine gilding the scenery.

Even though I have achieved this goal, I’m not going to mark it off yet. I’d like to see a sunrise when I’m feeling more relaxed and have less to do. As I said in my previous entry, I’d also like to see one from the top of the nearby hills. But I do feel a step closer to having achieved it.

Sunrises have tended to feature in my story Awakening, yet I can’t remember the last time I saw one. I remember there being a great peace and beauty to the event and as far as I’m concerned there can never be enough of that in my life.

I’m thinking I may try this twice- once from home, where the view is not so great, but where the wind chill isn’t a factor and where I can have a nice cup of hot tea in my hand, and once from a nearby hill (see goal # 18) where the view will be spectacular.