Moment of Gratitude

Today I had to get a crown. Not the sparkly, royal kind; no, this was of the dental variety. I've been nervous about it for weeks, though I'm not quite sure why. Fear of the unknown I guess. Now it's behind me. I'm sure you will find this shocking, but it was not my most favorite of experiences. However, neither was it terrible. I've had many worse moments, days. A few hours later, I can't open my mouth too wide before it erupts with painful anger, but a couple Ibuprofin tablets has temporarily calmed the raging. And I am so grateful.

Grateful that I made it to now before I ever needed a crown. Grateful I have insurance to pay half the cost. Grateful that I don't live in a time where most people had lost all their teeth by my age (Fun Fact: did you know Queen Elizabeth I brushed her teeth with sugar). That our human minds have developed the knowledge needed to keep our teeth, and treat tooth pain & decay. That other human minds have created the technological tools needed to perform each and every thing dentists, and their wonderful employees, do. It's amazing really.

I normally fall on the side of 'we humans are terrible, we are destroying the planet'. I normally focus wholly on the awe inspiring workings the ocean, the trees, the other animals inside our vast kingdom of a world. But today, I am choosing to also revel in the wonders that lie inside the mystery of the human brain, and the magnificent ability of ours to CREATE.

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Where I Am From

'Where I am From' 

I am from the wintery mountains of Alaska

the fields of fireweed spread beneath the midnight sun

I am from the excited howl of huskies on New Years Day
and rainy days spent picking blueberries in the misty hills of Hatcher's Pass

I am from long family road trips with my nose dipped inside books

the soothing sound of Harry Potter being read out loud

I am from Trixie Belden and Animorphs and the Babysitters Club

and nights dreaming up stories beneath the stars

I am from hot coffee, smoky campfires, a cat's graceful purr

the quivering anticipation of thunder's boom

I am from the bottomless black of the owl's eyes

and the mystery of whale flukes disappearing beneath the waves

I am from waterfall visions and early dawn thoughts
the faery magic that hides just beyond the trees
I am from the tornadoed doom of impossible wishes
and the quiet dragon fire biding it's time inside my heart

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Where are you from?