Thunderhead

This picture was inspired by a photograph I saw in a magazine. Nature provides us with so many beautiful images as well as questions. Why is this thundercloud orange and purple? Was the sun way up high over white clouds and a cold front began rolling in low from somewhere? What did it look like as a person on the earth stared up above? Did they just see the purple bottom but not the plume of orange and white above it? The perspective I chose was one of a person on a hill overlooking the valley who could see all of it. In our own lives, we often have a gorgeous "top plume" that we present to the world, but we can have a purple gathering of emotions beneath, can't we? Thanks for tuning in.

SUDDENLY

Good morning. This pastel shows a sailboat which appears to be heading into a violent thunderstorm. It seems very fragile as it faces the force of nature. No doubt the captain had a map, had a plan and charted his course to clear the shoals and catch the wind to carry him to his destination. In living our lives, we often have a destination so we get a map, chart a course and navigate the shoals to smooth sailing. But, suddenly stuff happens. Sometimes it's a lack of organization on our part. Sometimes, it's the interference of someone else. It can be a disappointment or an outright storm we feel as tragedy. We are disoriented, frightened and bewildered. How could this happen to our best laid plans? I, for one, don't know. What I do know is that our only choice is to hunker down and ride it out. Once it is over, we start anew. Again and again. We are brave. We do try again. We are heroes and heroines in our own lives everyday. I salute us. Thanks for tuning in.