It’s a rainy day sitting here in West Kirby. The oat latte is keeping my hands nice and warm, and I’m just sat by the window watching the people of this small coastal town walk by.
As I sit here, I’m questioning my life. Thoughts like, “Have I lived a good life? Have I wasted my time?” The rain is coming down, and the people are running to escape it.
Not really sure why I’m writing these thoughts down. I think it helps me focus my mind on the positive. Yes, I have problems that I create each day, but let’s look at the positive here. I’m not outside getting wet. To help me cancel out the noise of Lateral, I’m wearing my headphones, and the soundtrack to Near Dark is playing. The music by Tangerine Dream is haunting, and it helps me focus on the writing.
I know I sound downbeat, but let me tell you I really enjoy these moments of solitude. The focus on my thoughts as I write, being mindful, really does help me. Boy, the rain is really coming down heavy. There’s a cold chill every time someone opens the door, and the blast of the cold air feels wonderful.
There are so many people in West Kirby that own dogs. I’m sitting here lost in my thoughts, looking at the camera sitting next to me. Damn, a wonderful opportunity for a street photo just went by. A lady riding a bike in the heavy rain and sitting in the basket was a small dog getting wet. That would’ve made a wonderful photo. Maybe I should be walking about in the rain, camera at the ready. Today is a day where I don’t feel the urge to be shooting street photography. I have many days like this where I just want to be left alone with my thoughts.
I question if I’m alone. I’m the only one with these thoughts. I know I’m not, but when I’m like this, I really feel like I am alone, and everyone else seems so happy. They look like they have loads to do and a purpose in life. I try telling myself that isn’t the case, and most of these people probably are just like me. So, why ain’t I listening to myself? The cold chill again from the door opening wakes me from my thoughts, and I begin to smile. I find that I’m watching the droplets of rain hitting the puddles, making round circles as they hit. This is so relaxing to watch. I find that I’m writing a bit, and then I get lost in my thoughts, watching things like the rain. This is just me being mindful. Near Dark is still playing. My lord, this music is really haunting. I need to listen to it more. By the way, if you’ve never watched Near Dark, trust me and watch it. It came out in 1987. It’s wonderfully dark.
I’ve come to have a latte and to edit photos that I took on the Mersey ferry. I really enjoy my days being on the ferry. This time of year, the ferry is mostly empty, quiet, and I can be mindful while riding the waters. There’s not much that I look forward to, yet traveling on the ferry is something that gets me excited and moving. Even if I don’t take any photos, I still enjoy being on the ferry. The sound of its diesel engines, the movement of the water, the amazing views of the city, and of course, the rivers other traffic is just intoxicating. For me, traveling on the ferry is addictive, and I’m thankful that I live so close to the terminal. I’m also incredibly thankful to the staff at Mersey Ferries. They have shown me nothing but kindness.
I tell myself, “See, you do have things to be grateful for. There’s nobody else that has these opportunities that you have. Living near the city and having so much on the doorstep, you need to stop feeling so sorry for yourself and start to focus more on the positives.”
I look up from the MacBook to take a minute from writing and to think about the last paragraph. And my lord, the rain has gotten worse. The sky is grey and it’s dark. I love this time of year. It’s cold, dark, and wet. The winter is extraordinary and it offers up lots of opportunities for me as a street photographer. They say that more people are miserable this time of the year, and I can never understand this. Being in the rain, snow, etc., is exciting, and it’s this time of the year that I spend more time out and about. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the summer and warm weather. I can head out without wearing a bloody coat, but I find it gets boring for street photography. The winter is far more unpredictable. One minute the sun is out, and the next minute it’s heavy rain.
It’s time for me to head out into the cold. It’s my time to get wet. It helps that I’m only a few minutes from home.
Until next time.
