Tag: light

A writer . . . almost struck by lightning!

lightning

What is it like to be almost struck by lightning? If you’re a writer, the answer to others might sound a bit strange.

Well, I was almost struck. On Longs Peak, coming down from the summit, about 20 years ago. That one flash of lightning stabbed so near my heart, and electrified my mind with something so majestic and indefinite, that I had to write something down. In the form of a story.

That short story is titled A Dance in the Lightning, and I just finished it this morning. Or perhaps it’s finished. I have a tendency to periodically change the fiction in my blog Short Stories by Richard.

The lightning at times is close, but more often it’s miles away. And it’s only glimpsed for a brief instant.

Christmas lights turn downtown bright red and green!

The recently restored 1910 Broadway Fountain is lit with red and green light during the Christmas season at Horton Plaza Park in downtown San Diego.
The recently restored 1910 Broadway Fountain is lit with red and green light during the Christmas season at Horton Plaza Park in downtown San Diego.

Look at these colorful photos! Horton Plaza Park and the U.S. Grant Hotel are putting on quite a show for Christmas. Bright red and green lights have turned downtown San Diego into a cheerful wonderland this holiday season!

A closer photo of the handsome Broadway Fountain lit up at night with traditional Christmas colors.
A closer photo of the handsome Broadway Fountain lit up at night with traditional Christmas colors.
Light changes from red to green as water splashes in the beautiful 1910 Broadway Fountain designed by noted architect Irving J. Gill.
Light changes from red to green as water splashes in the beautiful 1910 Broadway Fountain designed by noted architect Irving J. Gill.
Across Broadway from Horton Plaza Park, the historic U.S. Grant hotel is also lit in Christmas colors for the holiday season.
Across Broadway from Horton Plaza Park, the historic U.S. Grant hotel is also lit in Christmas colors for the holiday season.
People sit at tables near the outdoor Starbucks at Horton Plaza Park one early mid-December evening.
People sit at tables near the outdoor Starbucks at Horton Plaza Park one early mid-December evening.
The bright Balboa Theatre sign invites passersby on Fourth Avenue behind the Horton Plaza Park sign.
The bright Balboa Theatre sign invites passersby on Fourth Avenue behind the Horton Plaza Park sign.
People have gathered for the evening in and around the Horton Plaza Park amphitheater. Downtown San Diego is lit beautifully for Christmas.
People have gathered for the evening in and around the Horton Plaza Park amphitheater. Downtown San Diego is lit beautifully for Christmas.
The Broadway Fountain and U.S. Grant Hotel put on a cheerful show of Christmas lights in San Diego.
The Broadway Fountain and U.S. Grant Hotel put on a cheerful show of Christmas lights in San Diego.

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Light dances on gentle San Diego Bay.

Early this morning I took a walk along gentle San Diego Bay. A few birds circled nearby. Light on the water danced, intensified, became blue like the sky…

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

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Strange geometry: windows reflected in glass windows.

Two buildings reflected in the windows of 101 W. Broadway in downtown San Diego. On the left is the Spreckels Theater Building; on the right is the Sofia Hotel.
Two different buildings are reflected in the glass windows of 101 W. Broadway. On the left is the Spreckels Theater Building; on the right is the Sofia Hotel.

I confess that I love reflections. They often seem magical, like a glowing vision of intermingled dimensions. So I had to take more photos today of windows reflected in glass windows.

Walking down Broadway in downtown San Diego is like moving through a funhouse maze. Left and right, the mirrors rise into the sky. One passes through an otherworldly geometry of reflected forms; light dances like the spinning sun upon bright buildings.

Strangely distorted reflections in the windows of a San Diego high-rise.
Strangely distorted reflections in the windows of a San Diego high-rise.
The old Armed Services YMCA building is reflected in glass windows above the entrance of 501 W. Broadway.
The old Armed Services YMCA building is reflected in the glass windows above the entrance of 501 W. Broadway.
One America Plaza, San Diego's tallest building, seen in a grid of windows across Broadway.
One America Plaza, San Diego’s tallest building, seen in a grid of windows across Broadway.
San Diego's distinctive Emerald Plaza reflected in the windows of 501 W. Broadway.
San Diego’s distinctive Emerald Plaza reflected in the windows of 501 W. Broadway.
The Westgate Hotel building rises in the windows of 225 Broadway in San Diego, the former NBC building.
The Westgate Hotel building gleams in the windows of 225 Broadway, the former NBC building.
Unusual geometry caused by multiple reflections seen from street level.
Unusual geometry caused by multiple reflections observed from street level.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!