Looking up

When I was in fourth grade, my teacher read us a book that completely caught my heart and child's imagination: The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards (Yes, it was written by Julie Andrews. Another reason why she is wonderful). For months,

I was drawing pictures of the marvelous magic soda fountain that produced any kind of ice cream:

"The children stared in fascination as lights flashed and the levers and pumps began to work. There were ridiculous noises: splashes and gurgles, wheezes and sneezes, squeaks and squelches, burgs and belches. More bells rang and the sparkling fountain changed color three times. Suddenly, high sweet voices sang in harmony. A door opened and a tray slid forward. Lindy found herself a silver platter upon which was a lace doily, a napkin, a silver spoon, and a china bowl filled with the most delicious-looking raspberry ice cream and all the trimmings she had asked for." ~ page 84

This book captivated me.

The idea that remained with me through the years was a scene that occurred early on in the story:

"He unfurled his umbrella with a flourish and opened it over his head. Large yellow butterflies were painted all over the clear plastic.

'Allow me to escort you,' he said, and walked briskly towards the front get of the zoo.

Lindy fell into step beside him. 'I love your umbrella,' she said admiringly.

'I bought it because it's cheery and it makes people look up. Have you noticed how nobody ever looks up?' The man's voice was suddenly irritable. 'Nobody looks at chimneys, or trees against the sky, or the tops of buildings. Everybody just looks down at the pavement or their shoes. The whole world could pass them by and most people wouldn't notice.'" ~ page 9

I have always remembered this passage and I think about it when I walk around outside. And the man is right, people don't look up naturally. Now I try to look up as much as possible.

Recently there have been many lovely sights up above. Sights that have brought me back to the idea of looking up and the Whangdoodles:

The trees at the University of Washington are very "branchy," for lack of a better word. When I look up, they seem like veins running throughout the sky. Veins carrying the lifeblood of the universe.

Another day, I was walking to work and saw a man standing completely still and looking up towards the sky. Other people were giving him funny looks and trying to see what he was staring at. Right in his line of vision was a beautiful bird grooming in the tree. Funny how one person standing and looking up can make others look up as well.

Walking through the Quad, I noticed music coming from the air. Looking up, there was a young man sitting in the tree, playing a harmonica. I was entranced by this odd and unexpected image. Part of me wanted to stand and look up and listen to him play. Ask him why he was there. His name. The other part of me knew I had a meeting to get to.

Early dark morning walks to yoga. Full moon hanging in the sky like a tunnel into another world.

Sunset at Pike Place Market: jagged mountains make the sky torn paper.

Look up, walk slower and enjoy the world around you. Look people in the eye, not at your feet. The city has much to share. So does the sky. Look up.