Judy’s note: I am thrilled to have inspired Greg to add to this year of G&J … we noticed the other day, quite by accident, that Gratitude and Joy and Greg and Judy are both G&J … enjoy his post.
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
Joni Mitchell
It’s January in central Arizona, which means late afternoon walks before the sun goes down are a great way to let go of the stress of the day and reconnect with nature, laughing at the rest of the country experiencing freezing (or worse) temps. It was on one of these walks that I remarked to Judy, “I’m grateful for clouds.”
On this evening, a thin layer of cirrus was softening the sun to the west as it dipped lower in the sky, bringing color to the otherwise pale blue sky. Other days, puffy fair weather cumulus dot the sky. During the summer monsoon season, towering cumulonimbus (what in my pilot days we called “cumulonimbustusassus” for their wicked up and down drafts) mean thunderstorms are on the horizon. Whatever their type, clouds bring me joy because they are never the same, representing the constant change of our environment. They bring color to the sky. They bring much needed rain, or even shade from the searing sun. They are nature’s curtains.
In “Both Sides Now” singer Joni Mitchell laments clouds that “only block the sun” and “got in my way.” I couldn’t disagree more. Clouds are special. Clouds are life. Clouds are a reminder that we are all part of the same world, a world that is and should be cherished.
There’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored. Look up and enjoy the clouds along your journey.
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