Good Morning, Merry Sunshine

Here on the Rio, 2008 went out in a hail of fireworks -- a week's worth, but especially on the 31st they went on at great volume for hours. It also went out in a week of daily rain, very little sunshine, most of that in 30-minute pieces. Much of the rain was in small bits, too, but frequent. On the next to last day of the year we say a brilliant, full-arc, double rainbow, so close we could see where it ended in the water on our end. Lasted for an hour, so we could watch it move with the sun -- awesome.

And then came yesterday -- 2009 dawned only partly cloudy. The day was brilliantly sunny for more than half, and as far as I can tell, no precipitation after morning dew. Today begins even prettier -- just a few tiny clouds on the horizon, and the most lovely blue sky everywhere.

Already most of what has been damp for a week is nearly dry. Already the little dry-weather animals are out.

The world is a beautiful place.

Blessed Be.