by

Daybreak #Writephoto

Photo copyright Sue Vincent

The chirping alarm clock wakes us at an ungodly hour, and I quickly prepare a thermos of hot chocolate. Muffins packed. Sweaters donned. Flashlights? Check. Blankets? Check. Keys? I pat my pocket, running through my mental checklist. We load up and drive the winding lane to the knoll.

It’s my 60th birthday, and I want to watch the sunrise. My ten-year-old granddaughter indulges my desire.

We spread a blanket on the smooth ledge, cupfuls of cocoa in hand, another blanket warming our laps. The stars behind us glimmer like luminescence in the sky’s black sea. To the east, they fade as dawn breaks. Clouds stream in heaven’s wind, a sheer sail unfurling over the slumbering land.

A light catches the corner of my eye. An iphone! “Gah!  Turn that thing off.”

“I have to check one thing.”

My instruction is ignored. I emit a series of annoyed and exasperated groans, mutterings, and sighs.

“One minute,” she giggles, unswayed by my performance. “I’m looking something up.”

I wait.

She leans into my shoulder and shares. “Did you know that light is actually all colors, and each color has a different wavelength. Blue is the shortest and red the longest.

“Hm.”

“Different length lightwaves travel through space, and when they reach the atmosphere, they bounce off particles in the air. Like dust, water, and ice crystals, and tiny gas molecules. They scatter in lots of different directions.”

“Interesting.”

My subtle hints are failing to have an impact. She scrolls down. “When sunlight travels a short path through the atmosphere, tiny gas molecules scatter blue sunlight in all directions, making the sky blue. At sunrise and sunset, when light travels a long path, it’s mostly red and yellow.”

I sling an arm around her and sigh. “And I thought it was magic.”

She slides her phone into her pocket, and we “ooh” and “aah” as the sun bathes tiny gas molecules with gloriously long light waves.

“You know what else it said?” Apparently, my little scientist isn’t finished.

“What?”

“That the clouds are a canvas on which nature paints her colors.”

“I like that,” I say.

“I thought you would. You see? It’s magic after all.”

***

In response to Sue Vincent’s Thursday #Writephoto prompt.

This is a work of fiction.

159 thoughts on “Daybreak #Writephoto”

  1. acflory says:
    May 1, 2020 at 6:33 pm

    Hah! This reminds me of driving home just before sunset with the Offspring.
    “Oh, look! It’s Golden Hour!”
    “Mmm…”
    The world is full of Philistines. lol

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      May 2, 2020 at 11:42 am

      Ha ha ha. Yes, there is a generational difference, isn’t there? Then the offspring age and become the ones fixated on the wonder while their kids stare at their newest gadgets. I think this has been happening for thousands of years. Thanks for the visit, my friend. ❤ Be well.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Jess@thebookofjess says:
    March 21, 2020 at 6:51 am

    I loved reading this, Diana! Its lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Julie Holmes, author says:
    February 19, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    LOVE this! Okay, I really love the idea of sitting out on a blanket with some hot cocoa to watch the sun rise. Love watching the sun rise. And set. Gorgeous!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Susan St.Pierre says:
    February 16, 2020 at 8:25 am

    Outstanding! This was heartwarming.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. kevin cooper says:
    February 16, 2020 at 6:46 am

    Beautiful, Diana… Truly beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Léa says:
    February 15, 2020 at 1:39 am

    Delicious and delightful. I do love catching the sunrise over the chateau behind my house on my morning walks. The perfect location is the third bridge across la rivier Berre. When it rains I go a bit further and catch the show at our village cascade…
    BTW, next time make sure the phone stays at home or in a car and a belated Joyeaux Anniversaire.

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 15, 2020 at 8:07 am

      Thanks so much for stopping by to read, Lea. Your sunrise options sound beautiful. This is a piece of fiction, so no birthday and no sunrise-viewing with my make-belief granddaughter. Lol. But it was fun to imagine. Have a beatiful weekend!

      Like

  7. Sarah says:
    February 11, 2020 at 9:11 am

    Aww – such a sweet story, Diana! And I love that clouds are the canvas on which nature paints – magic indeed!! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  8. joylennick says:
    February 11, 2020 at 6:43 am

    Happy 60th Diana and many, many, many more…How lovely that piece was. You seem to have the monopoly on magic! Hugs xx

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 11, 2020 at 6:48 am

      I’m past the 60 mark, Joy. This is fiction… but I wish it was true! lol. I might just have to drag my little grandson out for a sunrise and some hot cocoa this summer. Thanks for stopping by, and I’m glad you enjoyed the story. ❤ Have a lovely day.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. kimbladeswritingblog says:
    February 6, 2020 at 2:33 am

    Great story.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Photo prompt round-up: Daybreak #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo says:
    February 6, 2020 at 2:01 am

    […] Diana Wallace Peach at Myths of the Mirror […]

    Liked by 1 person

  11. willowdot21 says:
    February 5, 2020 at 8:50 am

    That is a lovely work of fiction….. I almost wish it was true. So happy Birthday or unbirthday that was a beautiful story. 💜💜💜

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Teri Polen says:
    February 5, 2020 at 6:53 am

    A sweet story, Diana. A friend of mine posted some sunset pics on FB similar to this one – just stunning.

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      February 5, 2020 at 7:57 am

      Thanks, Teri. I was struggling what to write about with another sunrise/sunset photo, and then these two characters showed up with their story. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it. Have an awesome day!

      Like

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