Thanks to my dog Marlowe, I followed his curious, exploratory instinct, and got one of my own instincts--the one for opening my eyes, for seeing what's all around--awakened. It's so easy for the clamorous world to shout down the natural affinity for immemorial beauty.
I stood still, watching Marlowe walk an erratic pattern following his nose. Then I looked around, and noticed the water drops formed on the trees. I thought of how many times I've stood in the same spot with nothing in my surroundings ever looking quite the same. Yet in stillness and quiet, with a focus like these drops of water, I can, for a while, lose awareness of time.
