Grab coffee, sleeping bag, hat and blanket. One must hurry because the colors change fast. If the sky offers colors of red and purple, it’ll usually happen twice, giving a second chance to glimpse the painted clouds. It’s cold, the rabbit goes running with my presence at its breakfast.
The quicker I zip up into the sleeping bag, holding my hot coffee precariously between my legs as I zip to contain the heat, I settle in. As I am ready to stop fussing, the reason I got up and braved the cold quiets into existence. It is so quiet. Completely quiet. I can finally choose to stop thinking and just listen to the quiet. I have never had the opportunity to listen for so long to quiet. It seems different to sit outside instead of the confines of four walls. Nature always offers an experience of existing that can never be substituted by a room.
Any movements done softly to not disturb my listening ears into the open space. My breath, slow and without disturbance. It all just goes….. .
If I drew myself, my mouth would be in the shape of saying hhhaaaa. My eyes open, slowly caressing the air waves, my ears with huge funnels attached to attract any subtle sound to be caught.
Sounds begin to pepper the air. The birds flutter their wings awake, talking amongst themselves about their daily travels, the rooster sounds its traditional call, the rustle of unseen movement, is it a gopher or a rabbit? As the cars start whizzing out on the road, or the distant construction sleepily begins, the quiet starts to become lost. I now find myself focused on the rise of sounds, and my mind like a switch turns on to words and ideas.
That morning pause where time expands into infinity, no end, has turned a bit past 7o’clock and the bustle of the day has begun. My coffee cup is empty and now the sun pierces my eyeballs til I’m forced to look away. It’s time to unbundle, and begin my own day. But even if only for brief moments throughout the day, I remember the pause. I let it expand for a few seconds, so I can take in breath that feels no end, and then I begin again, and again and again.
Thank you silence. Thank you morning. Thank you planet.
About Nadine Lollino
Nadine Lollino has been creating and performing in the arts of dance, costume making and video since 2002. She currently creates as MovementLab. Nadine has previously danced with Anatomical Dance Theater, Breakbone Dance Co., and the Humans, all Chicago-based companies and was co-founder of multi-media collective PosterchildArt. She has been presenting her own works since 2005, traveling nationally and internationally.
