October 22, 2006

Sunrise

I never used to be a morning person. I have always been the kind of person who stumbles about blearily in the morning, snarling at anyone who crosses my path, or who just sits in a lump on the couch until my husband reminds me that I might want to get dressed and go to work. When my kids were little, I never minded breastfeeding in the morning, since that is one task that can be done while half-asleep, but anything more strenuous than pulling up my shirt to offer a breast is more than I can handle. My husband, luckily, can function in the morning, and so he has always been in charge of the alarm clock, breakfast, and the kids' school lunches.

Of course, there have always been exceptions. I am somehow able to get up early when I am camping, waking as soon as the first light arrives, to go sailing in the early morning fog, or walk along the ocean by myself, or take a canoe through the mist, or hike a trail while the sun is rising. When I stay in a city, I love to get up early to walk around the quiet streets, watching merchants sweeping their door steps or setting up their wares. During vacation, I can transform quite easily into a morning person.

And now, as I get older, I find myself more and more awake in the early hours, getting before light to read or write or work at my desk. Perhaps it's because my body is getting older, and I wake up in response to the warm energy that spreads through my body just before dawn. Or perhaps it's the result of having teenagers. When my kids were little, the only quiet time I had was at night, after they were asleep, and sometimes I'd stay up late just to enjoy some time alone. Now that I have teenagers who stay up late and like to sleep late when they can, the best chance I have for time alone in a quiet house is in the early hours, while everyone else is sleeping.

sunrise

Sunrise on a mountain lake. I took this photo a few weeks ago, on the trip I took with my parents.

21 comments:

Andromeda Jazmon said...

Oh that is stunning. Thanks for sharing this! I love getting up early before the boys.

Unknown said...

What a gorgeous view.

zelda1 said...

I am an early person. I want to watch the sun come up and the very early morning affords me time alone. The picture is beautiful. For Christmas, I am asking for a new digital camera so I can take pictures of the lakes and streams around here on this old mountain/hill. Your photos of nature and Dee's photos of her cats give me an extra boost on those slow mornings.

Kyla said...

Wow, that is gorgeous!!!

Anonymous said...

I just stumbled across your page but I just had to leave a comment saying that THAT is such a lovely picture! I love the colours and the serenity you managed to capture on camera.

Anonymous said...

So beautiful...

landismom said...

Great photo. Yeah, I'm in the 'early morning is not peaceful' stage, with the three-year-old who's up at dawn. Hard to imagine I might choose to wake up early some day just for the peace and quiet, but I can see your point.

Anonymous said...

Scheiss! That's amazing.

Coffee-Drinking Woman said...

That is a beautiful photo.

I, too, am in the "only time to myself is at night" stage of life, but I love early mornings - when I can get up to greet them.

Yankee, Transferred said...

Love early morning. Love the photo.

L said...

I don't even have words to say how beautiful this photo is. As a hopeless night owl (with small kids -- I've always stayed up late, though), this post gives me hope that someday I'll be able to enjoy the early morning too.

Sarah Sometimes said...

yes, stunning pic. At first I thought I was looking at snow....

Paul said...

That is a beautiful photo!

Anonymous said...

I don't have kids, but I am finding that my energy level is shifting towards waking up early and getting going. At least, during the work week that's the case. And I was the kind of child who had to be pracically dunked in ice water to wake up.

OneTiredEma said...

The photo is amazing.

The hour before dawn has been my favorite time of day for a very long time, probably dating from beach vacations with my family, when my dad and I would get up then on our last day for a final swim in the ocean.

Now the pre-dawn hour is filled with ministering to others, but I am positive that within a few years it will be my favorite time of day (silent and serene!) once again.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

FAB picture and post!

WOW! I love it!

I miss mornings these days because of my insomnia. That's when, if I'm lucky, I finally sleep.

Rana said...

Nice post. I've long said that I love mornings -- I just hate getting up for them!

I too do better getting up early when camping or on vacation. I think that it's a combination of being where the light can shine on me to wake me up (I do not do well waking up when it's dark) and not wanting to miss any part of the day.

When I do wake up early, and I'm not too groggy or cross, I love mornings - the feel of the air, the quality of the light, the stillness, and the growing light and energy and sound as it turns into day. I love how your photo captures that moment, right on the cusp.

jayfish said...

beautiful picture jo(e)!

BeachMama said...

Another gorgeous photo. Although it takes me at least a half an hour to function, I am definately a morning person. Once I am functioning, I am raring to go for the day. I crash around 2pm. And my days get earlier and earlier as time goes on.

Anonymous said...

Wow, thanks for that photo. I feel like a kid in a candy store looking at the photos you take.

halloweenlover said...

What an amazing photo!

Jo(e), another thing we have in common. I am the worst morning person ever, and my plan is to pump one bottle a day, specifically so that Josh can feed baby in the morning and let me sleep. I'll stay up until 3am, just let me sleep in, please.