Early the morning of August 2, 2016, I cycled to the old Pitt Street bridge to capture a sunrise. As I walked toward the pier I heard a screeching sound from above. I looked up and called out, “Jonathan, is that you?”

“Of course it is, my man. What’s happening this morning?” came the reply.

“I’m just here to capture the sunrise, but I’m beginning to think its illumination of the clouds over Sullivan’s Island and the ocean is prettier than the sunrise.”

“You got that right, Brother. Why don’t you let me fly over the pier, and when I screech ‘Now Now,’ you capture it. Sound good to you?”

“My friend, Richard Bach raised you right!”

“Okay, Dude, get that iPhone camera up – that is an iPhone, right?”

“Yeah Jonathan, it’s an old iPhone.”

“Okay, Dude, here we go, listen for my signal.”

I watched as he circled over the marsh toward the Sullivan’s Island causeway, and then here he came in a beautiful, level flight! His distance from me and above the pier was picture perfect. I raised my iPhone for what I hoped would be a beautifully composed capture of Jonathan, with a background of magnificent clouds. I wanted to make author, Richard Bach proud of his magnificent bird.

And then I heard that spine tingling screech, “Now, NOW!!”

As he circled above, I looked quickly at the capture, looked up to the skies, and raised my thumb to let him know he nailed it.

Another screech followed, “Later Dude, catch you later!”

I saluted him.

When God paints a sunrise like that, and Jonathan Livingston Seagull does a cameo appearance, you know it’s going to be another wonderful day.

Have a great day!

“Oh Captain My Captain”

(If you’ve never read Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach, it’s a “must read,” in my book. Yes, it’s an old book from the 1970s, but it’s an enjoyable read that makes you think about life, and God only knows these days we need to be thinking about life!)