National Geographic has these wonderful webcams that allow long-distance vicarious living. My favorite is the one at Pete’s Pond in Botswana – for example, this morning (which is nightish there) the elephants have come in to drink. There are lots of elephants of all sizes – their tusks have almost a luminescent quality. The babies are of course darling.
Often times there are no animals visible except for flitting moths blurring around through the cam. But even then the sounds are great – water lapping on the edges of the pond, various insects buzzing, birds calling, lions roaring in the distance.
And sometimes you get a surprising picture of how many of us operate everyday.
Several months ago during a daylight cam session, I happened to check in. The scene was lovely and apparently calm. The water was gently lapping the edge of the pond, there was a slight breeze ruffling the trees just off the edge of the pond. You could see beyond the trees to the grasslands where a couple of gazelles were grazing…until something alerted them. They looked around and bolted out of view. Then they bolted back into view…then back out. All to the accompaniment of big cats roaring. And the water gently lapping. And the insects buzzing. And the breeze stirring the tree tops.
So often on the surface, I appear calm and relaxed, going about my business with no worries. Being happy. And peaceful. BUT just beyond the trees at the water’s edge? Running to and fro and in circles to escape the various ” lions” that are roaring and attacking and infringing on my life. Flinging my hands up in the air, screaming “ACK! HELP!”
Gotta love National Geographic. Helps me make sense of my life…
Just Sayin' 