Clouds are wonderful and full of magic. With a little push from a gentle breeze, they can shape and reshape themselves into any image your mind can conjure up. I am a cloud watcher and I love a sky full of clouds. I have found the perfect place, on our beautiful campus, to pursue this wonderful pastime. There is a bench, outside our chapel, overlooking a long meadow gently sloping down towards Pleasant Valley. On the right side is a dense growth of varied size trees. To the left, amidst towering pines, graceful silver birch, red maple, flowering dogwood and magnolia trees, are small while cottages, surrounded by colorful flower beds and shrubs. On a clear day you can see for twenty-five or more miles, across the Hudson River to the Catskill Mountains. A most delightful spot from which to watch clouds.
Some days there are huge white puffs that remind me of the feather beds my German Grandmother made me, when I was young. I loved to plop myself into the center of it and let it puff up all around me. I wonder, how would it feel to lie on a soft cloud? Would it engulf me and we would sail before the wind to a far off shore? I wonder. There are days when the wind is gusting and small cotton balls would scurry before it, playing tag with each other. Sometimes straight lines would form and march across the deep blue sky, like soldiers on parade.
Every day is different, and as I walk to my bench, I am full of anticipation as to what I will see today. Maybe snow capped mountains ready to be climbed? Or perhaps yummy swirls of whipped cream to be savored with cake or ice cream? If you wait patiently, you may see exotic animals climbing skyward toward a heavenly zoo. Shear wisps can come floating along, like old fragil silk scarfs, with the sun weaving golden threads through them. I would love to be able to throw one across my shoulders.
One day as I sat there, the sky darkened and to the West across the Hudson River, long ominous looking clouds were forming. I could hear the rumble of distant thunder and I thought I had better leave before the storm struck. However, I was rooted to that bench, fascinated by the huge grey and black billowing clouds changing form as the wind pushed them ever closer , towards me. As lightning started to flash and lit the sky with an eerie color, I awoke from my trance and knew I had to hurry home. At my age, hurrying is not easy, and I wished I was young again and could RUN from the monster chasing me. Soaked, frightened, but exhilarated from the chase, I reached the safety of my cottage.
Come, be cloud watcher. Let your imagination take you on a magical journey!!!
Anne Humbach
10/06
Copyright © 2002-2010 Anne Humbach