“In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer”

Albert Camus ~ French author, existentialist philosopher, and journalist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957, (1913 – 1960)

Photograph by Chris Gibbs

“Nature chose for a tool, not the earthquake or lightning to rend and split asunder, not the stormy torrent or eroding rain, but the tender snow-flowers noiselessly falling through unnumbered centuries.

John Muir ~ Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness (1838 –1914)

Photograph by Quang-Tuan Luong

When presented with a certain weather condition, I often start by thinking how can I truly show natures power and beauty before looking for photo ops. It is hard to capture bitter cold, so throw a warm cup of warm water in the air at
-35 Fahrenheit and bitter cold shows itself by freezing water instantly. Frost River Trek 2008

Photograph and advice by Chris Gibbs

“How strange is the lot of us mortals! Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose he knows not, though he senses it. But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people”

Albert Einstein ~ German born American physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity. Received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. (1879-1955)

Photograph by Paul Zizka

“There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive.”

Jack London ~American short-story writer and novelist (1876-1916)

Photograph by Paul Zizka

“While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole. That is why I dance.”

Hans Bos ~ Contemporary admirer of dance with no formal training from Terre Haute, Indiana. This enduring thought was used by Landra French as the heading quote for the Sept-Oct 1995 issue of The Crescent Moon (Vol 2, Issue 5)

Photograph by Paul Zizka

Embrace wisdom wherever you find it. We can find and express our truest selves in the passion pursuit of all things, dance, climbing, skiing, knitting, whatever you love in which you can immerse yourself   ~JEM

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”

Rabindranath Tagore ~ Indian poet, playwright and essayist, 1913 Nobel Prize winner for Literature  (1861-1941)

Photograph by Roger Nordstrom

“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from”

T.S. Eliot ~ American born English editor, playwright, poet and critic (1888-1965)

Photograph by Paul Zizka

“He who binds to himself a joy does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternity’s sunrise.”

William Blake ~ English visionary, mystic, poet, painter and engraver (1757-1827)

Photograph by Roger Nordstrom

“A hug is the perfect gift; one size fits all, and nobody minds if you exchange it.”

Anonymous~

As we head to the holiday shopping season on this Black Friday, please let’s keep in perspective what truly matters. Go ahead and shop, support the economy. Keep us on the road to economic recovery. But don’t just spend. Make investments in products and services that bring joy to your life and the lives of others. Realize that the most meaningful gifts need not necessarily be purchased but simply given.

Photograph by James Edward Mills