Every now and then

Every now and then I need to be reminded my life is more than what I see throught my computer. I walked my son to school today because I needed to talk to his teacher about his diet restrictions. (icky bug, long story, if I told it there would be too much information.)
I took my camera with me.
When I have my camera I notice things. Like the way the sun shines through tree leaves, or the interesting texture of a fire hydrant, or the contrast of white mums against dark leaves.
I noticed the smell of autumn. The brown earth smell that is so different from spring, which also smells like earth. In the spring the air smells of promise, in the fall the scent is deeper, layered and complex, it is maturity of promises fulfilled.
I ponder the contrasts of my world. I see bright, brittle leaves against dull, solid concrete. On a neighbor's porch, I notice all the different shades of white reflected in her chairs, flowers, and cement bunny.
Every now and then I realize there is a world beyond the far away lands of New York and California, or the very close land of my desk and scrap table in the basement.
Every now and then, I take time to be instead of do.