Sunset

As I got out of my car and walked up the flight of stairs that led to my front door, I looked back and was greeted by the familiar Alaskan sunset, and what a beauty it was. It was like a breath of fresh air to me as today I felt like I was suffocating at work. I need to remind myself that I am a traveling therapist and in a temporary situation, so should not take on things  whether mentally or physically which is but fleeting. The reality is, in a matter of weeks or months, this  bothersome situation will only be a part of my repertoire of experiences.

Yes, let's get back to sunset. A sunset is usually seen at the end of the day or at a memorial service where there is always the reference of sunset as the day the deceased passed on; or yet still, the term sunset years to suggest the later years of one's life. Used in these contexts, sunset suggests finale, the end, the close of another chapter.

But I would like to look at sunset from a different perspective. I dare to suggest that instead of seeing sunset as the end, why not look at it as the beginning.

If we go back to the creation story, the Bible refers to the evening and the morning as the first day, therefore suggesting that the day begins not at midnight as popularly viewed, but at sunset. Could we possible allow our minds to view sunset through different lenses? Lenses that imply a new beginning, a fresh start, new horizons and opportunities?

Last night I had one of those sunset experiences. Remember Darcy my ski instructor that discovered me on the trails? Well  she was gracious enough to invite me out on the trails again this week, only we could not go because of inclement weather. What were those weather conditions? It is been said that because of the "El Nino" climatic conditions, the weather situation as gone topsy turvy world wide. Here in Alaska it has been an usually warm winter where currently this week the temperature had gone up to a high of 49 degrees. Now for my friends in the Lower 48, this may seems cold but the moisture that is experienced there is not here, so the 40's actually feels like a 60 degrees spring day. Needless to say, the snow is melting and everywhere is icy. This makes for treacherous driving and very sleek slopes and trails. So instead of skiing, Darcy invited me out for dinner, and not only that, she invited her teenage daughter to meet me too. How cool was that!. I had a great time in their presence and the lovely tofu wrap that I had for dinner was off the chain, as a friend of mine would have said. Heres to the beginning of a new  friendship!

Another sunset experience, today my nephew CJ, whom I share the same birthday, left home for training camp. He is going in the service- the Navy. Of course being the protective and worrisome aunt that I am, I got very upset this morning and bawled my eyes out on learning of his departure. In reply to my, text he told me not to worry too much.  A new horizon, a new beginning, new prospect for my baby boy as he venture out of the comfort zone of home and into the sunset. I pray the Lord's guidance and protection on him.

I am thinking of my time here in Anchorage and how many new things I have tried and  learned and the people I have met. I was taught to knit by my 86 year patient who unfortunately passed on but what a legacy she has left behind. Currently I am knitting my first project,- a yellow scarf, in her memory. I have gone snowshoeing, sledding and skiing with lots more to come.  I have learned to bake various breads from scratch and to a certain extent give up buying breads in the store. Of course I am still practicing in getting a nicely shaped bread. I have  also learned how to prepare very sumptuous vegan dishes. So I welcome the sunset and all the possibilities that it brings. Just like the varied hues in the sunset give for a beautiful picture, so these varies experiences makes for a wonderful life.  I will enjoy the sunset. I will look for ways and means to create new experiences and new opportunities. I will try and refrain from borrowing rays for sunsets of yesterday that are already gone and in the same vein, try not to reach for sunsets that are not yet, but live for the moment and enjoy the sunset that I am currently blessed to have!!!!!!