Present Moment Reminder

Sunset: a present moment reminder that all is well. I decide to abandon the groceries in the trunk of my car and rush to go for a short walk to catch the last rays of the setting sun. When I turn from my driveway onto the street I am met with the orange and purple and blue hues of the evening sky. The sun is well past the horizon and soon it will be dark. This is the in between time—between the golden hour and the blue hour, photographically speaking. This is where present moment resides, if we stop and look up. I am trying to engage all my senses: the sight is fully engaged and front and center. I can’t really focus on anything else. Are there sounds? Yes, I can hear the nondescript noise of distant traffic. The air is velvety smooth if I were to speak of its texture. It is still warm yet I can feel the chill as temperature drops. I smell freshly mowed grass. Soon I will smell smoke of fall fires from neighboring fields. My dog used to sniff and taste at the same time, but I can’t really add anything here if I stick out my tongue, other than to feel the coolness of the air as I take a deliberate breath through my mouth. My senses fully engaged, I sink into the moment and forget about time and place. I rest in the stillness and absence of thought. Soon, it gets dark, the colors disappear and I hurry home. I try not to miss too many sunsets.