Day 84: The Rebel Light

Tonight Pin and I took a quick dander over to Morrisons to get 'supplies'.  (ie, stuffs for chocolate chip cookie dough, ice cream, oh and a few boring things like broccoli and light bulbs.)  On the way I saw a house with a little welcome light that shone red, blue, yellow, and green.  I stopped because I've haven't seen one of those lately.  Most lights are just pale, retiring, "don't notice me" kind of lights that give a warm glow but ensure that your attention is directed entirely to the door, or the doorbell, or another aspect of the house.  This one, though small, shouts out for attention.  It's brightly coloured, cheerful, and even glows in a different way.  It's a rebel!  So, I snapped a photo of it, hoping that the house's inhabitants didn't come out scowling wondering why I was taking pictures of their house.  Little do they know that their rebel light is famous now!  All over the world!

In the spirit of this rebel fire I found a poem that seemed to speak directly to this small light.  Read on! Shine on, little light!  And all of you, walk on!

"The Rebel" - by Don Marquis

No doubt the ordered worlds speed on

  With purpose in their wings;

No doubt the ordered songs are sweet

  Each worthy angel sings;

And doubtless it is wise to heed

  The ordered words of Kings;

But how the heart leaps up to greet

  The headlong, rebel flight,

Whenas some reckless meteor

  Blazes across the night!

Some comet—Byron—Lucifer—

  Has dared to Be, and fight!

No doubt but it is safe to dwell

  Where ordered duties are;

No doubt the cherubs earn their wage

  Who wind each ticking star;

No doubt the system is quite right!—

  Sane, ordered, regular;

But how the rebel fires the soul

  Who dares the strong gods’ ire!

Each Byron!—Shelley!—Lucifer!—

  And all the outcast choir

That chant when some Prometheus

  Leaps up to steal Jove’s fire!

Day 48: Another Reason To Walk

For those of you following my blog from outwith the UK (particularly the States), I'd like to point out another reason that I love walking here.  Petrol is now at £1.24 per litre (a friend of mine on the Isle of Skye quickly pointed out that theirs is at £1.36 and rising), which for those in the States works out to be between $9 and $10 per gallon.  Enjoy buying your fuel this week!

My walk was fairly uneventful today.  Matter of fact I'm getting so used to walking now that some evenings I can't remember if I've taken my walk today or not.  Just becoming part of the day!  I'm glad for that.  That was one of the things I wanted to gain out of this challenge, was to make walking just a normal part of living - not something I have to make a huge effort for.  Many days I just get out to the post office or the grocery store or to run errands - it's great having a flat that's near the town centre. Everyone I talk to lately keeps saying, 'It sure is cold...but at least it's not snowing!'  They always look at me really funny when I say, 'Well, I quite liked the snow, and I miss it!'  Actually that's not true.  They look at me like I just sprouted a few green and purple horns in my head, and they want to rip them off me. But I press on.  If I'm going to be a rebel just walking around with no dog and no exercise outerwear and no purpose to my walks, then I may as well admit that I love snow! 

I was out tonight just walking out to my car, and noticed that the moon is full.  I wondered where that had come from, I thought just the other night it had a ways to go.  But then I remembered there were a few nights it was obscured by misty clouds.  Tonight it was almost completely clear, and "the moon is shining bright as day".  (Ogden Nash)

Walk length:  30 minutes