Last spring, as I spun along the interstate headed home from work, I noticed some "cows" that didn't look quite right grazing in a pasture. They were mamoth and moved slowly across the field. I did a double-take. Those "cows" turned out to be elephants! The big pasture and barn along the highway are used by a small circus for their winter quarters. That bright spring day, the elephants were out enjoying a bit of green grass and a bit of sunshine.
The elephants are back now. The circus is once again in its winter quarters, and I purposely drive home on the interstate to see if the elephants are out. I get in the right lane and go as slowly as safety allows just to get a glimpse of them in the pasture or by the pond. It is a novelty to see elephants where one normally sees cows. Somehow, as the days get shorter, and life falls into the routine of work and darkness, the idea of elephants in the pasture is just the spark I need to keep life from becoming dull.
The elephants are out of place in a sense, and I like that awkward balance between what is expected and what actually is. So, I look for the elephants. I keep looking for the unexpected. It brightens the dull winter days and keeps me expecting surprises.
No comments:
Post a Comment