Empty Holes It Fills... My Precious

It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,

Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.

It lies behind stars and under hills,

And empty holes it fills.

It comes first and follows after,

Ends life, kills laughter.

(answer: darkness)

So, when I was just a wee-little-tot, 5 let's say, I have a memory of sitting in our basement. All was dark except the humming glow of our giant box T.V. My older siblings were all lounging about watching a movie and I was curled in a ball on the floor looking at the descending light from the stairs. I really wanted to go upstairs but I distinctly remember a sibling (who will remain unnamed) saying to me, "You have to watch it! If you don't you're lame. Everyone loves this movie." (or something to that effect). Anyway, I remember 2 scenes from this animated gem: a large, dark, red-ish mountain with a spiraling trail with little colored dots (people I assume) on it. And second, I remember this:

For those of you who are "lame" and never had the privilege, this is the 1977 animated version of J.R.R.Tolkein's classic: The Hobbit.

Now, as a 5-year-old I was very impressionable and you can only imagine what horrors that raspy voice and slimy green creature left me with. Okay, so not really any, and I hadn't even thought about that childhood memoir until our day-trip to Cuetzalan. It...Was...Awesome! We went spelunking and obviously it was my first time, WHICH come to find out was totally a deprivation as a dating college student. Apparently everyone has gone by age 22, but nonetheless-- I love it!!! There aren't any good pictures, but think of Gollum and the movie clip. That's all I could think of while I was down there!

delicate

3-year-old showing off outside the caves

Really pleasant park with lots and lots of birds

For the Beauty

You know that charming scene in Little Women where all the sisters and Marmy gather round the piano in their rag curls and old nightgowns? They sing "For the Beauty of the Earth," light their candle, leave Marmy with a kiss and one-by-one continue up the stairs and off to bed. That's how Veracruz was. I mean, the song is how Veracruz was, but referencing it in Little Women adds the charm factor. In other words, we loved this vacation.

We started at dawn on the beach. Really, the ocean is unmatched in it's majesty. I sit and watch it for hours and it still leaves me amazed. It's hard to see it and not think of God and His grandeur. I love it. I always thought that if a guy wanted me to marry him, he would have to propose on the beach because nothing is more thoughtful or romantic. Girls... So silly. 

We also saw some more ruins, which quite honestly didn't come close to Palenque so I was a little critical. From here, we went to the Veracruz LDS Temple. It was good and despite the awkwardness that can come from language barriers, it was a wonderful, much-needed experience. We also went to the Veracruz Aquarium which was SO COOL!!! I sound like a 7-year-old on their first field trip but seriously, I never realized how many amazing creations God has filled our beautiful earth with. Example:

 

The Blind Eye Tetra! For real!? That is a fish with no eyes. Crazy. And so cool! I also loved the mini jelly-fish things. I stood and watched a 3ft glass box with hundreds of them for at least 15 minutes. They were unreal! Oh and speaking of real or unreal... they currently have a Ripley's Believe It Or Not exhibit in the same building and it was one of my favorite museums I've ever seen. Pictures don't do anything justice, so we stopped taking them after about 3 minutes, regrettably. We did get this one though:

 

Can you guess what it is? Good job! It's a chastity belt!

Oh, and this was cool too. Some guy created a lovely painting as he swam across the English Channel. Who thinks of such things??

Be grateful for all the fascinating and even mundane creations all around you. They really are SO COOL!