Sunday, July 14, 2013

The Unseen




There’s a road nearby that I travel, to get to Roseville from my little city of Orangevale, several times a month, Roseville Parkway. In all the times I’ve driven it I’ve never noticed that much of it has sumptuous median plantings; including trees, thick and multi-layer bushes and brick trimming. It is really quite lovely. By the maturity of the trees, you can see that it was groomed and planted over several years. All of the trees are all still quite young, but the potential is there for a lovely leafy drive one day.

The other day, I was almost startled awake from my unconscious steering of the car by so suddenly noticing this feature of the parkway that I slowed down and nearly pulled over, thinking that I was going the wrong way – since I didn’t remember the median growth at all. 

After I got over the feeling of being lost, I resumed driving, mindful of my surroundings. What I saw was a very deliberate attempt to beautify a six-lane thoroughfare through a suburban and sometimes even rural area and whoever had undertaken this attempt had been successful. I enjoyed seeing the variations of both plants and design. 

Then I found it sad that a governmental agency had gone to the trouble of doing what so many of us demand – making our common areas more attractive – and I hadn’t even noticed. Additionally, I found it upsetting that I had driven this way so many times without seeing it. 

As a writer, I am most effective when I’m a good observer, not only of human interactions but also of my surroundings, both real and imagined. So, to know that I had driven blindly past such a distinctive landmark, repeatedly, was truly unsettling. 

It is the unseen things, which we writers point out, that make readers so interested in what we have to say. That really is a big part of our job, bringing forth the unrealized, unnoticed and laying it before our audience for their inspection and enjoyment. 

I’ve been shaken awake by this experience and honing in on my surroundings and the reactions of others in wholly new ways. I only hope I can hold on to this new awareness of things unseen and never again slip back into that state of not being present.

6 comments:

  1. "It is the unseen things, which we writers point out, that make readers so interested in what we have to say. That really is a big part of our job, bringing forth the unrealized, unnoticed and laying it before our audience for their inspection and enjoyment. "

    YES! Making the ordinary and unseen into something extraordinary is something that pleases me so very much when I find it in a book's pages.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you agree! When I find myself enlightened by something I've read it's feel like I've been given a gift.

      Delete
  2. Many of us go through life with only focused on the destination and never notice the beauty around us. You're so right, Kathy, as writers we do see more and it adds flavor to our writing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel very lucky that most of the time I am very aware of my surroundings. I love to people watch as well. A cup of coffee in a quiet spot at the mall can give me new characters and plots as I watch the crowds. Isn't great being a writer?

      Delete
  3. What a great post! I've made this same self-observation, and it surprises me as well when I realize that I've gone unconscious. As writers, we are always trying to increase our awareness of what's around us...good for you for noticing. So many people never will!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Nadine. It is work to always be present, but so worth it!

      Delete