utter East

Wake to the roar of a B-52 cleared for takeoff from the park next door, sit up for a moment, stand, pull back the curtain slightly, lift the blind and peek out as a herd of motorcycles thunder up Beck Avenue. First time I recall sound coming into the condo from the Beck side. Now and then a ship's horn warning small craft in the Bay, but not even St. Andrews Jazz Festival music wafts in from the Beck side when the door is closed.

And there's a text from 12:28 AM.

Light of a catamaran anchored a hundred yards or so offshore. Hard to judge distance on the water whether close Bay or open sea.

Deliciously perfect night, slightest breeze, not yet chilly this fall season but too cool to sit out here on the porch uncovered. So my heavy dark green bathrobe, with hood up to keep damp night air off my neck. October darkness on St. Andrews Bay, and I'm alive. Gratefully alive in +Time+ and looking east. Which stirs one of life's happiest memories of nearly a decade ago.

Watching Narnia with my HNES middle school classes as Reepicheep bids farewell to Caspian, Queen Lucy and ship's company of the Dawn Treader and alone in his tiny craft, sails east beyond Narnia and the Silver Sea toward Aslan's Country.

Where the sky and water meet,

Where the waves grow sweet,

Doubt not, Reepicheep,

To find all you seek,

There is the utter East.

In the story we'll meet again after The Last Battle as we ourselves enter Aslan's Country and he greets us saying “Welcome. … . Come further up and further in.”

May the Lord bless those who died this night, and those of us alive who watch and wait for another dawn.

Thos+