Into the fog
On a clear day from this vantage point you can see Passage Island through the opening in the trees. Behind Passage Island you can see Vancouver’s Lower Mainland where rooftops at the University of BC campus jut above the craggy tree line. On a foggy day, you can see even farther than that…
On this particular day fog began to roll in at twilight. The white wall approaching from miles across the water stirred up anticipation of a show. So, I made a cup of tea and pulled a chair up to the glass door that offers a view across the waters of the Queen Charlotte Channel, just off the east coast of Bowen Island. Cupping the hot mug of tea in both hands, I stared through the glass with appreciation.
The ocean was rough, awash with churning crevices and white caps. Its surface was reminiscent of a grey cauldron spewing forth unearthly possibilities. I revelled in defiance of that unearthly potential while perched on the edge of my seat, ready to trust in the unfolding of the mystery.
I watched, delighted, as an eagle surfed the wind gusts just off the coast, a black speck suspended against the backdrop of the approaching wall of mist.
A BC ferry bound for Nanaimo glided past with casual intention, pressing forward into the open water. A silent prayer for its safe journey escaped me.
Dense fog had soon enveloped the coast, blurring the division between ocean and sky. I could see nothing but muted grey silhouettes of trees against the foggy curtain. The evergreens quivered as if being tickled by the wind. Their shaggy edges appeared to sketch invisible scribbles in the fog.
After quite some time my tea had cooled and I set the cup on my coffee table. Resting my head against the back of the chair, I stared into the sky. I couldn’t see very far in front of me and yet I was exploring farther than I had in some time.
I soared with the swooshing sound of the wind through the trees. The sound of rain drumming on the skylight was sensual. Its heartbeat opened me, seemingly letting the fog inside. It was like I was the churning cauldron of waves feeling alive with the mystery, I was the ferry bound for home and I was the eagle, surrendering.
I soaked in those precious moments, feeling so alive and at peace. I knew this memory would stay with me. The volume of emotion brought tears to my eyes and I just let them fall.
I sat there for almost an hour, just listening and watching; enveloped by my senses. It seems that in those moments when you think you can’t see, you can see farther than ever.
Do you recall any moments that you knew at the time, would stay with you forever?
J.D. Meier
patricia
Hilary
Tony Single
Linda
Barbara Swafford
Deb Dorchak
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Davina .. I can imagine all of that beautiful descriptions .. I shall be able to do that in due course – let a few minutes or hours wash over me with memories .. though I can remember my ferry ride to Nanaimo ..
Fog – many memories .. pea soupers in England .. grey school capes wavering .. a valuable basket of bottles knocked over … guilt years and years later …
Driving in the fogs in the 60s and 70s .. using the cat’s eyes …
a big accident when some idiot very early in the morning decided he could get past a long line of us … it’d be alright if you could see … a head on collision ….
Namibia .. where you don’t think of fog .. but it’s what keeps wildlife alive there .. the flora and fauna .. catching the dewy drops, or absorbing the mist ..
On the coast we don’t often have fog .. the Downs get covered in sea mist .. and that rolls in ..
Well that’s me for a while! Good to read you again .. and glad you’re settling in well to your new place and enjoying the views … sounds as though in Spring it will be glorious .. Happy New Year .. cheers Hilary
Nanaimo ferry 1993 — along with many other memories of that BC trip.
Mike Goad´s last [type] ..New Island?
What a fine post this is, Davina! You touch me with the way you see — as if your senses and your soul were meeting in a place both beyond and deep within you. Beautiful!
Jeffrey Willius´s last [type] ..AWESOME, SCHMAWESOME – The Slow Death of Superlatives
Waiheke Island, August 2007, just after having lunch at Mudbrick – if my avatar behaves, you will see a shot of it (as taken by my wife) to the right of my comment :)
Just as the sun broke through the clouds, I stretched out my arm and she took the shot.
Were I to suddenly come into a large sum of money, perhaps from a lottery or inheritance, I would make a home there, and run a small internet cafe.
(And yes, I have already looked into that – it could happen one day regardless, when we are ready!)
I echo Jeffrey’s praise, Davina. Simply lovely writing and affirming your choice: you belong where you are to the part of becoming your surroundings. Inspiring and enviable.
I was reminded of when I looked into forever (http://passingthru.com/2010/09/looking-into-forever-part-4/) from a high point between Grand Portage and Thunder Bay toward Isle Royale. I still get very emotional thinking about it.
Betsy Wuebker´s last [type] ..At the Crossroads of Blues and Rock’n’Roll
Hi Hilary.
Letting a few memories wash over you… taking that space to allow that to happen… hey, that sounds like a form of meditation :)
I like your descriptions too: I can imagine the school capes wavering — sounds mysterious. Oh, and driving through the fog; that sure is a different experience than witnessing it from the safety of your home. That’s one my fears about driving in it… the OTHER drivers who seem to think they’re invincible. Very sorry to hear about that. I hope it wasn’t a fatal crash.
I love that type of mist that is like a light rain. It’s energizing, even though it doesn’t do wonders for your hairdo :) Happy New Year to you too, Hilary.
Hi Mike.
Well, if you take the Nanaimo ferry again, I can watch you sail by with my new binoculars :-)
Hi Jeffrey.
What a beautiful thing to say. Thank you! I feel a sense of satisfaction when I know folk have been touched by the reading. It’s like my soul wants the reader to open up and “see” that place inside of them…. We have so much to “see”.
Hi Brett.
Your wife took that picture at *just* the right time. You were both ready for the break in the clouds. I’m glad that you have that memory from that time. And if it is meant to be for you to settle there, than so be it! I wish for it to come to pass then. That island looks simply beautiful.
Hi Betsy.
Thank you :) I was thinking of you when I wrote this, recalling my comment to you on Facebook about wishing I had more inspiration to write. In a way, you initiated this. So, thank you for the coaching.
I remember that post of yours well and have just read it again. It’s *such* a lovely, heartfelt tribute to your connection with Lake Superior. And, it showcases your writing talent, which is incredible. I teared up at the end. I believe this is one of my most favourite pieces of yours, Betsy. Those emotions play a monumental role in connecting us with that writer’s voice. And what you said in that post about “looking into forever” is indeed true. You will carry that memory and Lake Superior with you forever.
Hi Davina,
It’s so good to see your writing again. You write with such passion. As I was reading your post, it felt like the beginning of a good book. You know the kind – one you can’t put down.
For me, one of those “stay with me moments” is from when I lived in Alaska. My apartment faced the Chugach Mountain Range, the first snow had just fallen and it looked like the mountains were dusted with powdered sugar. I was in awe. Relatives were visiting and when asked what the name of the mountain range was, I said, “Powdered Sugar Mountains”. They thought the name was very appropriate, however I fessed up and told them the truth. :)
Sounds like Island life is agreeing with you. I’m looking forward to more of your “works of art”.
Barbara Swafford´s last [type] ..Wishing You All A Happy Holiday
You lucky, lucky gal! All that ocean and all those trees and close to the city too.
Yes, ocean watching has held me captive for many many moons, hours at a time.
Summer bonfires on beaches too under the stars of the Baie des Chaleurs.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Thanks for the card.
xooxxo
Jannie Funster´s last [type] ..In The Studio 12-27-2011
Hi Barbara.
You’re right! I went back and read the beginning with this in mind; I could see what you meant. It feels like you’re being lead into a story. It felt good to pick up the pen and get something on the page with this post. It’s been too long.
LOL. I would have believed those mountains were called the Powdered Sugar Mountains too. Scenes like that tend to stay with you, especially when you have developed a wee story around the event. This made me laugh out loud. :-)
Island life is agreeing with me. I’ve returned to working on the novel, now that the holiday season is behind us and the move is behind me. Will keep you posted.
Hi Jannie.
It is a pretty convenient spot :) Just far enough from the city to feel like country, but not too far that it’s a long trip to connect with the city life.
Time sure does pass when you’re captivated by Nature. And bonfires… another captivating activity… there’s just something about a fire that draws you in. The Baie des Chaleurs… New Brunswick! New Brunswick is one place that calls to me. Your summer bonfires sound like lovely memories.
You’re welcome for the card :) Happy New Year to you too!
Davina,
So much to love about this! One of my favorite evening activities is to walk along the beach at sunset, or under the moon and stars :) So much is revealed when I open my heart to it.
I also love when the fog rolls into the harbor at night, making visibility poor, yet we “know the way” so use our other senses to guide us as we walk along the dock or look out from the deck of the boat.
This is such a wonderful affirmation: “I couldn’t see very far in front of me and yet I was exploring farther than I had in some time.”–kind of like accessing intuition in life…
And I must be in a frisky mood because right now every moment I can recall that while in it I knew it would leave an indelible imprint on my soul happens to be quite intimate in nature..*grin*
A beautifully poetic post Davina. These are the truly magical moments in life. Those times that we connect with source, its voice whispering through our souls. Tears of recognition and peace flow to the surface, cleansing us. Your writing is just beautiful, a reflection of the truth you experienced in that moment. When we look within, we can see so much farther than in the physical world.
I love memories such as this, moments that live forever within the soul. Perhaps this is the true reason we are here on earth, to absorb these moments and integrate them in our higher soul. Memories that live on like this for me often come from time spent out in nature. Nature is such a clear energy to reflect off of, and easily shows us our higher selves.
Keep enjoying your beautiful new home, and the beauty it brings out in your life and soul! Thank you for sharing this moment with us all.
Ah yes, Joy!
This *is* something you would resonate with… being by the water’s side and experiencing the passionate side of Mother Nature. Me too… I love the fog rolling in. It’s so moody and mysterious. Frisky eh? Those are some good memories you’ve got there, lol. I love your playfulness :-)
When you open your heart to it all it is reflected back to you. There is SO much to see… and “feel.”
Hi Stacey.
Thank you so much for your compliment. I was very inspired by the weather and luckily, the “right” words came around to help me share.
Magical indeed. And yes, connecting with “source” — that is a perfect way to describe this. Looking within, when we make the conscious space to do this, is learning to be with more of ourselves. And we open the door for those around us too… bringing our experience to them.
I love your analogy of why we may be here to absorb these moments — it’s so beautiful. It makes me feel just how thirsty our souls are for this. Nature has brought up tears many times and it feels good to let them roll :) I *can’t* imagine a world without trees, birds and all the endless experiences Mother Nature creates.
Davina,
this is lovely and I celebrate your writing – in your new zone…I too have a cuppa as I read
I love the fog and especially fog horns and lighthouses. I was born into a cabin that was nestled at the base of a light house…at Boston Harbor. I lived my first several weeks with the Dr. and his wife at a house nearby and then moved back into the cabin with my family. I find the fog and horns soothing and it just makes me feel cozy and reflective…and I am quite addicted to watching the water
Thank you for sharing…sorry it took me awhile to get here…
I am dealing with internal fog that is hindering
patricia´s last [type] ..A Short Story Full of Thanks
Hi Patricia.
Thank you. Your birth story is beautiful; being born in a cabin nestled at the base of a light house. Wonderful imagery here. I hope there weren’t complications from your birth, since you spent several weeks with the doctor though.
Yes, listening to the fog horns is soothing. It’s interesting how certain sounds put us into that reflective state.
I hope you’re better now! That the internal fog has lifted!
Davina,
I was born with a massive tumor on my chest and the catholic hospital would not do C-sections as that interfered with birth….I was actually born in a small clinic at Doctor’s risk, then had surgery to remove the cancer and my mum was shipped to the hospital for 2 weeks of surgery recovery and I went to the OB-Gyn’s home for 2 weeks of care by his nurse wife….
My parents and siblings lived in the cabin at the base of the lighthouse and the DR. lives just a few houses away. Family had just moved from Graduate School in NYC and started a new job….the Doctor arranged all the childcare and help he could for my arrival
It really is a quite a birth story…but I love the fog horns still…:)
patricia´s last [type] ..What is your purpose?
Ohhh, Davina, you’ve written about home – in the sense of our incredible West Coast, but even more important, in the sense of being deeply within the place for which we long.
Such Inner peace, beauty and overpowering love is one that stays indelibly.
Thank you for praying for our ferries. It will be pleasant knowing someone may be praying for our passage as we slip by those tall cedars.
Great post. It’s interesting when you know something will stay with you forever. You realize those moments quickly, and sometimes, they are almost frightening.
Doug Gene´s last [type] ..Rocky Mountain Trail Coupon Code and Review
Patricia,
Yes, this is quite a story. You were so well taken care of! I believe you were meant to be here :)
Hi Amy.
I didn’t know you were from the West Coast! Hi neighbour. I’ve love to know where you’re at. If we can meet over a coffee or tea I would love that.
You’ve illustrated this beautifully — being deeply within the place for which we long. It’s so powerful! And loving… just feels right and when you’re in that space nothing else matters.
I take note of many ferries as they pass back and forth. You might chuckle; they remind me of big snails gliding slowly across the surface of the waters… leaving a trail behind them. :) I love snails, btw. Find them quite intriguing and steadfast.
Hi Doug!
I approved your comment a while back and *almost* forgot to come back to this post. Thanks for stopping by and reading. These moments can seem to swallow us up sometimes, can’t they? I half wonder if it’s because we allow more in, and because our boundaries are down, we feel a little “open.” Remember those moments when you got so caught up in something that you jumped right in without a second thought, and then when you landed you surprised yourself? :)
I like this one quite a bit. I’m a new reader (your more recent short story got me coming back). Thanks!
Doug Gene´s last [type] ..GMC Denali Road Bike Review
Hi Doug.
It’s nice to see a new reader here *and* commenting! Thank you for reading and for coming back! I’m happy that you have connected with the writing :)