Reflections on the Water
This old guy is quite a character. He’s one of the men who work paddling traditional boats, called “shikaras,” on the lake near our home. Last Sunday we hired him to take us out to an island for a picnic. It was the first sunny day we’d had for a week, and we were ready for some fresh air.
That afternoon the lake was almost perfectly calm, and out in the middle of the lake the only noise we heard was the dip-and-splash of the heart-shaped paddle. My husband, not one to sit still for long, picked up an extra paddle and sat in the front of our boat to get some exercise and move us along a little faster.
Our old guy found this extremely amusing! The island picnic in the sun was lovely, and on the return trip we drank chai from our thermos.
On the lake, we were struck by the beauty of the trees and mountains reflected in the mirror-like water. I wondered why it is that we love seeing reflections in nature. The mountains reflected in the lake surface seemed clearer in outline, without the atmosphere’s haze. I noticed patches of sunlight on the sides of the hills that I hadn’t noticed when I looked at them directly. The clouds’ reflection on the water seemed more dramatic than what I saw in the sky over my head.
Isn’t that how it is with reflections? As I mentally reflect on Sunday’s outing, details stand out more clearly and I notice new things. Observing the reflection makes me see the real thing a little differently. While there may be more clarity in the reflection, depth is lacking. Reflecting helps me appreciate the real experience more, but it doesn’t substitute for it. After all, the lake’s reflection of the mountains is only on the surface, and only lasts until the wind comes up. If I want to hike to the mountain-top by jumping out of the shikara, I’ll be pretty disappointed. And very wet.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged boat on the lake, reflections by Lisa