I keenly feel the need for connections. These connections provide ties that keep me grounded. First are my connections with people - family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances. And not only my connections to them, but the bonds they make with each other, through me. My entire life I have had the urge, the desire to bring together all of the people important in my life. My friend, Steve, teases me about it occasionally. The master gathering never happened due to all sorts of issues - distance, timing, money, and now as I get older, death. But I still have parties where I delight in introducing individuals to others who I believe they would mesh with. I have amazing, interesting, talented, knowledgeable, magical friends.
But I depend on other connections as well. Such as with my non-human family members, mainly my dog. My dog is my running companion, my exercise motivator, my protector, my always-affectionate buddy. In moments of deep sadness, my dog has provided silent empathy and love. But, in their own way, my snakes have provided enjoyment as well - their unique movements, their bright colors, their mysterious ways. The wild animals I have encountered , especially those I see frequently, also contribute to my well being. The owls that frequent the yard, the kingfisher that nests nearby each year, the badger that came to dig and eat something under our bird feeders, the toad and lizards and skinks that live in our garden. Even the deer that nibble my roses and tulips and tomatoes.
The third important connection is Place. Certain places fill emotional and spiritual needs necessary for health. One such place is Death Valley - one of my favorite locations on earth. Anywhere in the Sonoran Desert qualifies. Glacier National Park. The foothills out my backyard. Place is important enough that I sacrificed career enhancement for the desire to live in a place that suited me and allowed me to visit the natural places I longed to immerse myself in.
Which leads to the photo I chose for today’s blog entry - one hose connected to 4 valves that lead into 4 more hoses - that keep our garden watered. The photo was captured with my Pentax SLR camera with a pinhole cap. It is a fitting metaphor for the relationships that spread out from me to other loved ones who keep life going.