I was looking in my work diary and not for the first time it struck me how planned my life is as an adult and how important knowing the time is. My schedule is full of meetings and appointments which break my working days and weeks into chunks of time where I have to be in certain places at certain times. I feel naked without my watch. I pride myself on being punctual and professional for the meetings I have scheduled.
That is why I love it when I have a few days off as I often don't wear a watch. Time doesn't matter so much, my days are my own to do with as I please without any demands being made on my time. The stress of having to be somewhere on time is replaced with the relaxing feeling of not having to be anywhere at anytime unless I choose to do it. Am I unique in this feeling? Absolutely not. It is a symptom of modern living, but sometimes I long for those carefree days as a child when I measured time with a dandelion clock, where the number of blows it took to scatter the seeds would tell what time it was. I took the above photo on a recent day out - one of four days in a row I had over a bank holiday weekend where time wasn't so important and enjoying myself was the priority.
After I snapped the picture I picked one of the dandelion clocks and blew once, blew twice and then three times, which told me it was three o'clock when I took this photo. Near enough for me on that sunny day.
26 comments:
Ahh yes, we too used to do the same things with those flowers. Your photo is stunning! I stopped wearing a watch when I had a baby for some reason and I haven't worn one since. I don't have a tight schedule to follow - my mobile goes with me everywhere anyway which tells me the time.
my children love dandelions - they call them wish flowers. It's catching...the other kids around have taken to calling them that too!
What a beautiful [icture B-K, and what a beautiful way with words, too.....I love how much you enjoy the uncripted time...And I understand that and enjoy that myself, too...
I love seeing the delicate flowers(?) on that dandelion....And I remember blowing like that as a child, too! A Lovely flower, isn't it?
I love dandelions and I wish they were cultivated like other flowers and not considered a weed!
There are days when I don't wear a watch either, and I can always look at my cell phone for the time.
as a very distracted person who LOVES time, but hates watches and clocks, I rejoice at your time without boundaries experience.
do you know of Minerva, if not come by for a link and a visit. it is GOOD news!
With any luck I will be able to get some more pictures of those dear Himmingbirds! I have one GREAT picture I should post again...a Hummer hovering---wings flapping---over some bougenvilla...!
Oh Yes.As adults we are so governed by time.As a parent of two young children, I'm even more so.If they miss the school bus I will have to drive to drop them :-) Its better then to keep an eye on the clock.The children are absolutely clueless and really not bothered about time.They just enjoy life.
And blowing dandelions sounds so lovely--and so far away,almost from another time!
How cool! I've never heard about a "dandelion clock" before. Great concept.
nice post.. a true eg of how mechanical our lives have become..
Keeping up with time keeps us on track with what we need to do, but the reward is time away from the schedule. You put it beautifully. Lovely photo.
Very, um... timely! I like those times when we have a few unhurried moments to gather our thoughts and go all profound and such. Although pressure and deadlines bring out a certain kind of creativity, it seems to be more instinctual. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I think it is necessary to balance that output with a more reflective, perhaps humanistic response to life. Thank you for reminding me.
Mike
Thanks my dear B-K....I am pretty much staying in the house...except for taking out the garbage and going out on the deck for a few minutes, once, today....The fire on Catalina Island is quite far away from me...And that is a really sad one because there is such history there....The little town of Avalon is at great risk....I hope they get it under control....The Firefighters are really fantastic here...And in fact, all of the componants of the Fire Dept., includiung the "drop" planes---I have tremendous admiration and respect for them and the way they work...they are so dedicated and well trained...!
the fat lady really did give a lecture, didn't she...? (LOL) But I appreciate so very much all the caring thoughts and words from you and from her and everyone who has expressed them.
Hope your weekend is a lovely one, my dear.
I've never been here before and clearly I've been missing a lot. Your photos are spectacular!! And I very much relate to your post. I, too, am very punctual, but love to be on "dandelion time".
Forgot to mention the most important thing - - Michele sent me today!
I learned to live on child's time a long time ago - well, whenever I'm with my kids anyway. It's too stressfull if you are constantly worrying about the time, expecting things to be done in a certain time limit etc. Kids have it right. It takes as long as it takes!
Of course, most weekends in the summer I have no watch, clocks or mobiles to go by. I eat when I feel hungry (or the food turns up), and do stuff when it needs to be done, regardless of time:-) Sometimes the 14th Century is relaxing:-)
For someone who's so caught up with time, how come your clock on your sidebar is wrong;-) ?
Juggling Mother - the clock is wrong because a) I haven't worked out how to fix it and b) blogging is my time when I'm on 'Dandelion time!' :-)
When I was 19 & 20 & had no kids & lived alone in a rooming house with about 20 other people near the beach I would turn my clock to the wall on the weekend (& I've never worn a watch) So as to not have the slightest clue what time it was & live life without worrying about it when I did'nt have to.
Here from Micheles
Isn't that the truth! I feel the same way....and then add in all the places and times my children have to be somewhere! It's a wonder I show up anywhere at all!!
Hi from Micheles!!!
the purple flower picture is really nice!
I'm constantly checking my watch for the time. However, when on holiday I rarely check it.
You've taken a beautiful picture :)
I used to tell the time with Dandelion Clocks - I miss those times.......
cq
Michele sent me back---And then I got interupted!! (LOL) The way of The Internet and a Telephone that rings...
That picture is really BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL, my dear.....These little flowers have such a delicacy to them, don't they? And a fragility, too....Love it!
I realize that I have never addressed 'the time' factor...(lol) I don't wear a watch...but do look at the clock in my bedroom, enough to know kind of where I am timewise---as well as when I am watching TV...I can tell the time by what program is on that I am watching...Otherwise....Forget it!
I know exactly what you mean... I'm almost never without my watch. Never thought much about it. But I always get a pang if I leave the house without wearing it... like I'm not complete without it. :)
Plus, I have some pretty watches. lol
Thoughtful post.
~S :)
I love these pics...they are so pretty. :) Have a good weekend!
As soon as I got home from my trip, I took my watch off and left it on my nightstand. My wrist feels decidedly free and relaxed now, and I'm debating whether or not I want to put it back on come Monday.
Of course, when my new BlackBerry is delivered, I think I'll just use the clock on that. It's the pox of the journalist: time is my master.
I don't remember doing time with the dandelion but it sounds delightful. I feel like a bear who needs winter to return... just want to curl up somewhere nice and cool and dark and hibernate. The sunshine is nice but here it comes with heat and humidity.... I prefer the cold.
Post a Comment