PofFA reflect, originally uploaded by margosita.

It has been the kind of week where going outside was painful. It required galoshes and umbrellas and quick hunched walking. But yesterday was a bit of a reprieve. It wasn't a beautifully warm or sunny day, but it also wasn't raining and the clouds in the sky were fat, white and harmless. It was also Jeff's last afternoon in San Francisco on this trip, so we decided to go out roaming for a bit. We went up through Pacific Heights and the Marina, passing through Cow Hollow to the Palace of Fine Arts. It's a nice walk, if you are careful to avoid the steeper hilly blocks. The neighborhoods in that part of the city are quiet and beautiful and on every block there is at least one gorgeous house that will break your heart. (I mean, really, who are these people who can afford to own them?) A lot of the ground is soaked from the week and walking around the Palace of Fine Arts was a bit muddy, though that wasn't stopping many people, including a bride and groom who were getting their photographs taken. We walked around and inside, past tourists and bikers and flamenco dancers. As we were walking out I noticed that I could see the building in the large puddles we were carefully picking our way around. I had brought my camera and shot a few frames, pleased with the interesting angle, the luck of being there just before dusk with the nice late afternoon light.

Loading the photos I took onto my computer, I thought there should be a writing metaphor somewhere in here. There is a parallel to be drawn between writing and reflections, isn't there? Literature isn't so much invention as it is a mirror. Good writers reflect the world as they see it. Or maybe there's a sort of moral for writing in the idea of looking around and paying attention to the small, temporary stuff. I didn't set out on the walk with the intention of taking this photograph. But when I saw the opportunity I took it and look how nicely it turned out. Certainly I can say something here about letting writing do the same. Just go for a walk (write) and look around a little (keep writing) and when you see (write) something interesting, press the shutter (go with it).

Or, I don't know. Maybe there is no metaphor, no lesson to be learned. Except, of course, that it's the end of break, classes start on Tuesday and I need to start on my next workshop piece.