Capturing A Moment In Time

I like rising early. I love seeing the glow of the dew-kissed sun as it peeks through and between the gangly hardwood trees that overlook our nearby pond. This morning was no disappointment. I looked outside and saw a bird on one of my patio bushes and a butterfly on the other. Balancing out the miracles in nature was the sun. It, too, joined in the concert as it had risen and was in full celestial bloom along with the flowering tabletop bush, fluttering yellow butterfly, and nesting but quiet bluebird. All were in their natural form and showed no signs of competition or discord with nature. They were undoubtedly a harbinger of better days to come.

I’d finished my usual breakfast: dry toast, black coffee, and a single-boiled egg with a hint of salt and pepper, and now I was ready to start my day. I put on my shoes and made my way toward the door. The goal was to walk around my cottage-style subdivision for at least a 30 minute walk. I stopped in mid-stride. Something was out of line. I quickly thought, with all this beauty in full view, I needed to do something with the moment. But what? Just then, my overstuff chair beaconed me. It called me, although I was in mid-stride. I got it!

My guardian angel guided me, and I quietly reached for my camera. Usually, capturing such a beautiful scene was more than a challenge. Creatures in nature don’t often hold still and allow you to get your camera setup, pose and wait for the universal “say cheese” phrase. No, they quickly fly, jump, flutter or disappear just before you can complete a single click. Usually, I can’t capture one little bird or bee, let alone with a perfect setup like this. The subjects are much faster than the photographer when taking pictures. Opportunities may present themselves, but moments in time can be unforgiving. It is unusual for me and my camera to be yards apart at moments like this. Today is my John Audubon moment, I thought. Holding my breath and squatting quietly to place my derrière in the comfy seat, I aimed at the butterfly and then the beautiful bluebird. Taking a picture of a subject poised on the other side of a glass pane presented a challenge. As I clicked multiple shots, I was confident that the new camera allowed for glare. No matter. I continued to click away.

Just before finishing my quiet session, my peripheral view caught my sister just about to bound down the creaky steps. I raised my hand. She stopped her descent and sat down where she once stood. I felt her fear.

I snapped a few more pictures. The scene stayed in perfect formation for all of 40 seconds. That was all I needed to make that moment stand still and push off into infinity. Euphoria took over where there was once fear. Right away, I declared the moment a total success!

“Good morning, sis.” I finally said.

Miriam sighed, and for a moment, I thought I heard her whimper.

“I thought you’d caught an intruder red-handed,” she said.

“No. But I did capture a moment in time.”