An overflowing pond rests in the still morning, gentle ripples ruffling reflections. Bathed in morning sunlight, Windy Hill dominates the skyline. Pine branches frame the image; other pines anchor the horizon. Mallard Ducks forage the shallow pond. Beyond them, a Great Blue Heron stands silently, waiting for the tiny movement of a frog or other prey. A peaceful morning in Portola Valley. From near Corte Madera School, Portola Valley. 1/14/2024, 9:26:30 am.

I don't know what brought the mallards or the heron; my presence at this moment was accidental. A phone call interrupted my morning routine; I took a brief detour instead, and found myself in this perfect place and time.