CONNIE’S WORLD

The girl was told magic didn’t exist. But she’d seen birds flying in the sky. Those white wings lifting the graceful creatures to the infinite blue above her head. Those fish swimming in the sea that can breathe under water- how do they do that?! The fishes of many colors and so many shapes and so many sizes…

Katie in 2005

The seasons were magic, too. How could people deny this wonderful fact of life? In summer, everything’s pretty and green. In the fall, the leaves have to put on their colorful scarves and sweaters. In the winter, they get covered by the blanket of snow that falls for them so they can sleep. And in spring, they wake up again so they can play with the flowers!And the most magical season of all was summer. If the little girl stayed up late and out long enough, magic lights would float through the sky. Her father had said they were fireflies. She laughed, and told him, “No, silly, they’re starflies!” Because starflies are much, much prettier.

A pelican flies over the Cape Fear river

Last summer Joyce and I went for a short hike on the Sugarloaf trail. This is a beautiful walk that runs along the Cape Fear river just south of my home. As we were walking along a sandy stretch along the river’s edge, I noticed that there were Pelicans flying over this one section of pines. They must have been catching the wind as they just kept coming and coming lined up like they were taking turns trying the updraft. One after another they flew over us giving me the perfect opportunity to capture as many shots as I wanted.I love the coloring and detail this big sea bird and the shape of his neck. This is one of the simple pleasures of living near the coast of North Carolina.