February 03, 2004
the other side
yesterday's rainbow, SF, Nikon Coolpix 4500
Disclaimer: I usually try to avoid blogging about rainbows.
One day, in my last incarnation as a clothing salesperson, an old man (70 something years old, white crazy hair, tweed jacket) walked into the store. As we helped other customers, he ran (not subtly mind you) behind the counter and opened the cash register, grabbing as much money as he could. He shoved one of the sales girls out of the way to make his escape, scared the crap out of her, and ran for the door. We were all in a bit of shock, like did that actually happen? and called the police to report him.
There was a lot of commotion in the store, customers recounting what they witnessed, sales associates looking stricken, etc. when just as suddenly, someone else ran into the store and shouted, "Look at the sky! A rainbow!"
In that moment, I grinned the biggest grin because I saw something that struck me as hilarious. No matter what is going on in our tiny, drama-filled lives, there will always be immeasurable beauty just out of sight.
That sky is SO much bigger than we are.
*
For more beauty without irony
Posted on February 3, 2004 06:29 PMi planned my entire wedding around the weather. my husband and i are from new mexico -- truly big sky country, like montana -- and had to have that sky as part of our wedding. i consulted weather reports from the agricultural extension office back for 100 years to determine our day was the least likely day to rain or be bad weather. the morning was lovely, slight southern new mexico breeze but without the smell of cow dung and no dust in the air. but as i started getting dressed for the ceremony, the sky whipped into a frenzy. tableclothes were flapping in the wind, chairs were knocked over, the stringed quartet said no one would hear them and their music would blow away. the sky turned as purpley grey as any prethunderstorm sky in southwest could be. my dear friend silas said, don't worry, it will be ok. when it came time for the ceremony, it was ok. the wind started to die down and we had a slight breeze again. the sky turned into the most beautiful purplely-blue color filled with huge puffy clouds, and yes, we had a rainbow over our ceremony.
Posted by: lena at February 4, 2004 04:24 PMThank you for posting so often! Compulsive people like me love it! :) Of course there's no pressure. It's just lovely to hear from you.
Posted by: Joy at February 4, 2004 03:06 PMFor some reason, this post broght back to me an old Chinese proverb: you cannot have a rainbow without the rain. So true.
Posted by: Adina at February 4, 2004 08:01 AMWowwie - great story - I know that feeling of unbeliavability when you get robbed. I remember catching someone stealing from me and nabbed the guy red handed and couldn't believe it myself! But - there was no irony for me - just the usual chase the robber down the street scene. Well, beautiful picks and I love the link to the website you put up too. Very cool website - as yours is too!
Posted by: Jen at February 3, 2004 05:28 PMi was looking out my window watching the
snow pile up when you screamed with delight at the unfolding of this rainbow. even miles away, i was able to feel the beauty of it all... combined with this story that you shared, i received a gracious reminder about keeping an expanded view. thank you....
It always improves my day to give you a visit.
Yep - the sky is so much bigger -
Thanks again & again for sharing with us.
That's a really lovely picture and, yes, a cute story. ;-)
Posted by: saadiq at February 3, 2004 11:36 AMwhat a cute story. :)
Posted by: rachael at February 3, 2004 10:40 AM