Just posted under the Sky tab is only one of many images taken yesterday of the visually impressive Sky. The sight created a mesmerizing cadence of flight.

Yesterday an identified Gifted student of mine, who is insanely intelligent, came up to me near the end of the day and posed this scenario and question…

“Visualize a red apple. This apple is the most intensely bright and shiny red apple you have ever seen. No other apple compares to this one. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest score, what number would you rate this apple?”

My answer was simple, “10.”

My student’s shoulders slumped with slightly bowed head, and then let out a soft groan of frustration. When I asked if there was anything ‘wrong’ with my answer the student replied “Well no!, I can’t imagine rating it any more than a 2.” My student then walked away in a cloud of self-disappointment.

Since it was at the end of the day, and the question was irrelevant to anything we were learning, I didn’t pursue. But it did get me to think and wonder where such a seemingly irrelevant question stems from, and how this comes into play with my student’s mindset at the time.

I was left with many unanswered questions. The human psyche is far more complex than we can even imagine, or give credit towards. Simply astonishing!

We know the word’s definition, yet it is an intangible verb. I wonder what the body’s physiological biochemistry readings and imagery look like when we are in that actual state of relaxation and/or its opposite. I think I just created a self mini-research for the day. I’m sure there is data and best of all, images. Sounds cool already, at least for me. Wandering thoughts, ideas, and possibilities will often send me on a tangential search for connections-to-experience findings.

All of this sounds nothing like reaching a state of relaxation. At least I have an intentional goal.

As a child, I could never understand how my dad could wake up at 3a everyday so he could read the newspaper. At that age, waking up early instead of ‘sleeping in’ was incomprehensible. Like clockwork, he did this all the time.

I have since found much satisfaction waking up early. This time for me is completely unhindered by anything else so that I can play the piano, read, write, and exercise. It’s also a time for me to simply think, without any interrupting tasks or thoughts before my day ‘begins’.

This morning, the wonderful 1996 movie titled Fly Away Home came to mind, and at the time I wasn’t sure why it had.

Today, I get to attend a Celebration of Life for my sister-in-law, Celia. Today is the day where she will be able to freely fly away home as those who know and love her will also be there to send her off, to home.

Now I know who sent my morning thought. Spread your wings Celia, and Fly Away Home.

The 2007 song titled The Story, written and sung by Brandi Carlile begins with those words: All of these lines across my face…

I learned of this artist and song about a month ago while listening to a morning host on Sirius radio. Where have I been? What else have I missed? Why did I miss so much? No matter, as artifacts from my life, even ‘old’ to me are new. It’s pretty cool to experience, as I am an active biological participant in present-day linear time.

When I was younger, lines across anyone’s face was not something I cared to see, let alone the thought of my own lines one day. There was no way I wanted lines across my face.

It’s different now, I’m older. All of these lines across my face, tell me the story of who I am. I earned them, and those lines are an offering to share the real me with everyone I know.

They make me. They make you. Look into the mirror and embrace those lines.

The verb start is an action that is either requested in present time, or self-imposed. For example, ‘Will you please start walking?’, ‘I start reading my book. Used in past-tense, the word can be an observation. “I started to notice a change in the weather.’ Regardless, either direct our indirect action is the result.

‘Start’ is complete with robust significance, and its implication should never be slight.

I woke up ‘late’ today and wasn’t happy about it. Instead of waking at my regular time of 2a so that I can play the piano for 2 hours, I ended up waking up at 4a. Surely many think 4a is early, at least for their schedule. Not for me however. I keep a tight schedule, surprise!

After not getting into my head for the late wake-up time I seemed to be in a natural flow of ‘it is what it is’, so everything turned out to be ok. I was able to read, write, and drink my tea. Ahh, taking things in stride and being comfortable with it. Not a simple thing for me to do.

Once up and about I was again reminded that, I’m not the One in control.

Just posted under the Art Center tab is an entertaining essay on one of my Art Center friends titled North Beach Leather. I wonder what she’s doing these days…

Although I don’t always add new images to Sky, I do always take pictures of this natural beauty. Just posted is an image taken in October. I was drawn to this one a few minutes ago for the specific reason in writing this entry. Change is not something that occurs sometimes or frequently. Change is constant. Therefore what do we see in change? That all depends on individual perspective.

For me, though it may be large or small, there is always a pathway to embark, a Way. Find it.

While attending Art Center, a Transportation Design instructor once said, “Designing the looks of a car is all about controlling it’s reflection.” At Art Center, our observation skills were sharpened in every sense. This included, but certainly not limited to: Line, Form, Placement, Positive/Negative Space, Scale, Proportion, object Light Source (type and direction), Surface/Finish, and so much more. The refinement of these skills definitely brought observation to a new level of visual scrutiny within each one of us.

There is something about reflection that absolutely captivates me.

The other day when I was readying my Steinway for morning play, a certain reflection caught my eye. After I removed its cover, opened the front lid, raised and positioned the sheet music stand, and opened its keyboard cover, this is what I saw.