Pasteries, Beaches, and French Roast

I just went and got pasteries for the morning breakfast, then took a walk on the beach. See picture for my exciting (at least to me!) beach finds. Now while everyone else is still sleeping, I’ve made a French press full of heavy, hard French roast coffee. I’m sitting in the quiet of the morning enjoying my beach treasures and my coffee realizing this is it. It’s simple, it’s quiet, and these little things and quiet moments connect me to the larger “it” that’s out there.

A Spiral Arm Of The Milky Way And Our Place In The Cosmos

I've actually experienced this. A few years ago I was vacationing in Puerto Rico and spent a few days on the island of Vieques. I was alone on a beach one night away from any artificial light. The nearest arm of the galaxy stretched from one horizon to the other. I stood there watching in awe for about two hours. It was just me, the waves washing up on shore, and the Milky Way. I felt as if the galaxy and I shared some kind of private intimacy and kinship. It was my seductive and mysterious partner, sharing with me and only me its immense and sacred secrets. To say I was overwhelmed and humbled with my tiny yet significant and necessary place in the cosmos sounds contradictory, but it's the best description of the power and weight of the moment. 

A stunning video of this can be seen at the link below.

https://vimeo.com/211656397