Escape route

Reading about the ongoing horror that faces the people of Japan: the threatening nuclear disaster, the task of rescuing - happy! - or body-bagging - so tragic - the victims, the continuing shaking, the eruption of a volcano nearby, the nagging uncertainties: I am almost ashamed and embarrassed to be found appreciating the beauty of a spring flower or a quiet sunset.

What can I say? The world is here, pleasant and terrible; we can't ignore either one or the other, not if we want to be whole people.

Yesterday we attended the memorial service of one of Laurie's best friends. A celebration, really, with more laughter than tears. "J" was a funny, thoughtful, irrepressible, open-hearted, open-handed man; we need many like him. And this is what I brought home with me: a reminder to receive joy enthusiastically, and, equally, to extend a hand where it is lacking.*

'nuff "filosofussing" (Laurie's word.)

After a busy day in and out of stores, foot-weary, we dawdled too long over coffee and tea in the mall. When we left the parking lot, it was past 5:00, and traffic was building up. But it had stopped raining, and there was a patch of bluish sky, so we left the line-ups heading to the bridges, and went down the hill to the New Westminster quay. Supper could wait.

The sun beyond our bridge, peeking under rain clouds.

A few shy crocuses, hiding under the shrubbery.

Sign on the dotted line. Pine tree, with woodpecker markings.

In the women's washroom at the playground, an elegant cellar spider waits for supper.

First rhododendrons I've seen this year.

In the pools around an apartment block, four large golden carp swim lazily.

The water was murky and dimmed the view. Clicking on "AutoFix" gave me this fiery beauty.

"Leaving already?" says Mamma Duck. "No, no, no, no! There's still daylight!"

But we were cold and the bridge was empty. Time to go home to a nice, hot supper.

A late Skywatch post.
*Remember to donate to a relief fund. As I wrote a couple of days ago:

Red Cross: Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone. This will donate to the general Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, so if you want to ensure that it goes to Japan specifically, donate from their Web site.
Salvation Army: To contribute to earthquake relief, text 'JAPAN' or 'QUAKE' to 80888 to make a $10 donation or visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.
From Watching the ripples ...

And Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) is attempting to reach the worst hit areas of northeast Japan by helicopter, to bring medical aid.