Breath

Breathing is one of the simplest things in life we take for granted. Three days ago I had great difficulty taking a good breath and without Ventolin I don't think I could have survived through the past few days. I know that many people suffer from Asthma, but I'd never really given much thought to how the condition affects their lives ~ now, to me, breath is precious! Of course, I meditate every other day and the emphasis in meditation is on the cool inward breath through the nose and the warmth of the breath as it leaves the body. Very focused thought as I write this on this very cold morning, happy that I slept well, happy that I appear to be getting better. As I get older it is the simple things that sustain me. It's still dark outside and raindrops are hitting my kitchen window ~ I love that sound ~ consistent ~ reassuring, indeed, it's the only sound that I can hear other than the low hum of the computer and my own fingers tapping on the keyboard. All is well. Already, within a few minutes new sounds are emerging, birds communicating with each other in the trees, cars travelling along Macauley Road. Soon it will be dawn. Later this morning I will be attending a preview screening of the French film Farewell (Christian Carion, 2009). It's a spy film based on true events that happened during the Cold War, but primarily through events that occurred in 1981. After that I'll be resting up ~ domestic duties will have to wait ~ isn't it funny, the whole need to keep one's surroundings clean and manageable just falls away when one is sick.