Page 29 - The NOISE December 2015

LETTTE RER FROM AN
from an
PHOTO BY
BRANDON
MCDONALD
DearDest reader, earest reader,
Time does not increase in its rate of passing with the succession of each year we
Time does not increase in its rate of passing with the succession of each year we
live; there is an ebb and flow. I’ve lived long enough to be able to allow myself the
live; there is an ebb and flow. I’ve lived long enough to be able to allow myself the
liberty of encouraging those who are younger to not be dejected when the cool, dry air liberty of encouraging those who are younger to not be dejected when the cool, dry air
of autumn sets in and the harvest moon rises in the east as a harbinger of another dying
of autumn sets in and the harvest moon rises in the east as a harbinger of another dying
summer. Some seasons, we find, move slower, giving us time to caress our happiness summer. Some seasons, we find, move slower, giving us time to caress our happiness
and our sadness, our courage and our lust, while others carry us, either forward or back,
and our sadness, our courage and our lust, while others carry us, either forward or back,
as if we each are a lone kite caught in a gale. Through all of this it is important to take
as if we each are a lone kite caught in a gale. Through all of this it is important to take
what we can get, and forgive for that which we cannot. We should enjoy, as always,
what we can get, and forgive for that which we cannot. We should enjoy, as always,
every moment we have to appreciate the cycle of the seasons. every moment we have to appreciate the cycle of the seasons.
Recently, during an impeccably bright and illuminated full moon, I was given the Recently, during an impeccably bright and illuminated full moon, I was given the
opportunity to finally, after so much time in the city, spend a couple of nights deep in opportunity to finally, after so much time in the city, spend a couple of nights deep in
Elf Elf
PHOTO BY
BRANDON
MCDONALD
the forest with a friend of mine and his son. That his son was present was an interesting
the forest with a friend of mine and his son. That his son was present was an interesting
experience for me, myself being more naturally nocturnal and comfortable at night. experience for me, myself being more naturally nocturnal and comfortable at night.
He is currently at that age where he is still young enough to be uncertain but wanting
He is currently at that age where he is still young enough to be uncertain but wanting
to explore — that dangling worm of adventure on the hook ready to be sunk — and
to explore — that dangling worm of adventure on the hook ready to be sunk — and
learn. I was reminded how far from that age I’ve come and how much as a person I’ve learn. I was reminded how far from that age I’ve come and how much as a person I’ve
grown. I remembered a time when I relied on others for protection and security when grown. I remembered a time when I relied on others for protection and security when
now I can walk tall and confident in the night. The sounds of large cats on the hunt,
now I can walk tall and confident in the night. The sounds of large cats on the hunt,
the insects of prey and the roaming packs of wild dogs searching for the leftovers of
the insects of prey and the roaming packs of wild dogs searching for the leftovers of
the aforementioned-cats’ meals. Grasping my bow in the darkness, waiting, listening for
the aforementioned-cats’ meals. Grasping my bow in the darkness, waiting, listening for
the faintest rustle of grass, or the slightest trickle of a rolling pinecone in the shadows, I
the faintest rustle of grass, or the slightest trickle of a rolling pinecone in the shadows, I
finally understood that while the summer had come and gone far too fast for my liking, I finally understood that while the summer had come and gone far too fast for my liking, I
had grown as a person during that time; I had grown significantly. We live, events occur,
had grown as a person during that time; I had grown significantly. We live, events occur,
we experience, we struggle, and we survive.
we experience, we struggle, and we survive.
In the wake of the fleeting memories of summer we now are finding ourselves basking
In the wake of the fleeting memories of summer we now are finding ourselves basking
in the warm glow of fading aspen groves and early sunsets. The comfort the summer air
in the warm glow of fading aspen groves and early sunsets. The comfort the summer air
brings us on our skin and face is replaced by a visual stimuli which, in as short a manner brings us on our skin and face is replaced by a visual stimuli which, in as short a manner
as it came, will pass.
as it came, will pass.
I, having just returned from a fantastic voyage to the empty mountains far, far beyond
I, having just returned from a fantastic voyage to the empty mountains far, far beyond
the northern horizon, find it difficult to maintain peace and clarity in these changes when
the northern horizon, find it difficult to maintain peace and clarity in these changes when
surrounded by a nearly innumerable amount of people who do not embrace the season, surrounded by a nearly innumerable amount of people who do not embrace the season,
and do not give time for the moment. (It is not healthy for a long life to live in the past in
and do not give time for the moment. (It is not healthy for a long life to live in the past in
hopes of bettering the future; this is a futile entrapment.) This place that I journeyed to hopes of bettering the future; this is a futile entrapment.) This place that I journeyed to
was quiet, and a small village of rather friendly people welcomed me warmly and aided
was quiet, and a small village of rather friendly people welcomed me warmly and aided
my exploration of the area. I was comforted in that I did not run into any trouble up
my exploration of the area. I was comforted in that I did not run into any trouble up
there as, upon my departure from here, I had very little knowledge of where I was going. there as, upon my departure from here, I had very little knowledge of where I was going.
It was a place of paradise outside of this city and my heart longs to return. It was a place
It was a place of paradise outside of this city and my heart longs to return. It was a place
where wild things roamed freely, without interference, a place where faeries dance in where wild things roamed freely, without interference, a place where faeries dance in
clearings along creeks, a place where fauns skip between the copses of trees, and a place clearings along creeks, a place where fauns skip between the copses of trees, and a place
where even a dragon could soar through the sky and never be seen by a soul who would where even a dragon could soar through the sky and never be seen by a soul who would
rather disprove its existence. Regardless of my reminiscing it is not a place I would share rather disprove its existence. Regardless of my reminiscing it is not a place I would share
with many for that is how a great thing is so often ruined and destroyed.
with many for that is how a great thing is so often ruined and destroyed.
And with that it seems I am beginning to ramble and thank you, dear reader, for having
And with that it seems I am beginning to ramble and thank you, dear reader, for having
endured this far. Please, in the months to come, take the time to stop and gaze upon the endured this far. Please, in the months to come, take the time to stop and gaze upon the
moon and the stars, and breathe in the air. We are in a time of change, and that is the one moon and the stars, and breathe in the air. We are in a time of change, and that is the one
thing that is most certain, always. Accept the past, thrive in the present, and fear not the thing that is most certain, always. Accept the past, thrive in the present, and fear not the
future, and you just might find a sliver of true happiness hiding in all the noise we find future, and you just might find a sliver of true happiness hiding in all the noise we find
ourselves making in such a bustling city. ourselves making in such a bustling city.
Ande’thoras-ethil,
Elf
Ande’thoras-ethil, Elf
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