Sunrises

 In early June I had my younger brother John up to a cabin. 

He had come a long way to be there with me. 

Where he traveled from, the sun rose over the ocean every day and set near the mountains. He could see them both from his porch.

Here, in northern Wisconsin, was a small lake, not an ocean. There were no mountains-just a tree line that was sprouting furled leaves not long after the snow melted. And there wasn’t a porch with a view. You had to walk, with warm slippers and hot tea, out to the end of a weather-worn pier to catch the sunrise. 

Which I did, while he was there. 

I think it was the most beautiful sunrise I experienced in 2023. 

I’ve learned that life is funny that way; the seemingly unremarkable moments-can become exquisite when you know…they are fleeting. Or when you face the harsh reality, that they are gone.

I never made it to his porch across the world, when he was alive, to share the views he wanted to share with me. 

But I’m realizing now that all along-we always were experiencing the same sunrises-even when we weren’t together. 

I believe that continues to be true. 

Here is to experiencing the exquisiteness of each moment-of each sunrise, in 2024. To capturing every moment-or every memory-that you can-with those you love, in the new year.

And here is to the hope that comes with the start of a new day and another journey around the sun.