Sunrise, Sunset

This past year we traveled a lot of places, Maine, the Southwest, Hawaii...one of the things Norm enjoys photographing are sunrises and sunsets, and so do I. I used to get up early with him each day, but last year in Maine, I told him, "No more switchbacks before breakfast." After that, I slept in while he drove around Acadia looking for the best places to take a sunrise shot.
One of my favorite places for a sunrise is Bryce Canyon. Of course that means getting up well before sunrise so that I could find a place at Sunrise Point to watch the sunrise. In the cold, I waited and waited, watching the colors of the sky change as the light permeated the darkness and the shadows changed. Everyone oohed and aahed as the sun rose and finally the golden ball broke above the horizon. Within minutes, Sunrise Point was deserted, but I stayed around and discovered that after the sunrise, the real show begins.
As the light filters through the canyon, the hoodoos take on a translucency, they seem to glow from the inside. I felt that the people who had left, missed the show. Sure they were part of the main event, but they missed the spectacular.
Cadillac Mountain in Maine has a wonderful sunset. Again, everyone arrives well before sunset to get the best spot to view the descent of the sun. And as soon as it is down, they all disappear into their cars. But once the sun is down, the real show begins as the reflected light changes colors, yellow, to orange, pinks and purples, a palate of glorious colors reflecting off the clouds.


In our lives we experience lots of main events, birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, trips...the time up to the main event is filled with anticipation and excitement. But the excitement gets lost in the day to day normalcy of life that follows.
So what can we do? Having a big event? Enjoy the time before it, revel in the excitement, set aside the fears. When it is done, bask in the specialness of the event. What went well? What was special? What was humorous? Hang onto the event for just a little bit longer, there may be a surprising, wonderful continuation that enhances the main event.