Today’s SoCS post is: “cave.” We can use it as a noun or a verb. And Linda says, “Enjoy!” which I will!
Caves can be mysterious and scary. They can also be shelter. One of my favorite book series starts with The Clan of the Cave Bear. There are several books in the series by Jean Auel who writes about the woman Ayla in prehistoric times. It’s about survival, love, learning, and sacred places. The last book was titled, The Land of Painted Caves. I loved the books so much, I named my daughter Ayla almost 27 years ago after reading the fourth book. Seems like yesterday in some ways.
Caves have always fascinated me. Though I haven’t visited many, I have been to Linville Caverns a few times. The temperature is always 60 something degrees in the caverns. You have to take an elevator down for the guided tour. (These caverns are closed right now due to COVID 19 which makes sense for such tight spaces.)
Here are some photos inside the caverns:

My son and granddaughter study a stalactite
Inside these caverns, runs a stream containing trout. They say a couple of guys died in the caverns many years ago from lack of ventilation and smoke inhalation. Too bad. That’s not what I want to write about. But it’s good to remember if you’re gonna have a fire in a cave, you have to have ventilation. A cave with a veranda would be nice. Maybe some potted plants….
Some day, I’d like to visit a big cave and just hang out in there for a while as long as I’m at a safe distance from bears or crazy people. No. I don’t want to be stuck in a cave with a crazy person, unless of course they are fun crazy – in a silly way, but they can also be quiet and still. A cave is a place to be reverent. That’s how I would be if I went to New Zealand’s glow worm caves. Take a look at this in full screen with the lights out.
Can you imagine?! This looks alien, but it’s right here on planet earth!
Sometimes, especially lately, I think I would like to hide out in a cave, but not a cold one. A woman cave. I might even have visitors. But I would have to come out sooner or later. A long time ago, I painted a picture of coming out of a cave of darkness. It was shortly after my divorce.
Do you see someone in the upper right yelling at me to stay in the cave? I didn’t plan that in the painting, and I don’t know who it is. Maybe it’s just a rock. Or maybe this rock face is telling me to get out of the cave. But the main focus has to be the sunlight and the trees beyond the cave. That’s where I was was headed. Into the light.
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SoCS is brought to you by Linda G. Hill. For more info, guidelines and streams, visit:
https://lindaghill.com/2020/05/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-9-2020/
May 9, 2020 at 1:40 am
Nice ramble I enjoyed it 💜
May 9, 2020 at 9:56 am
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
May 9, 2020 at 11:25 am
I really did 💜
May 9, 2020 at 4:51 am
Video and painting are both amazing
May 9, 2020 at 9:56 am
Thanks very much, Derrick!
May 9, 2020 at 7:21 am
This is a wonderful bit of SoC writing, JoAnna. Personal, touching and beautiful. Thanks for sharing these thoughts and memories with us.
May 9, 2020 at 8:40 pm
Thank you for these kind words, Dan. I’m so glad you liked the post. Happy to share.
May 9, 2020 at 11:29 am
Such a lovely post with amazing video. Thanks for sharing.
May 9, 2020 at 9:03 pm
Thanks, Jilly. I’m very glad you liked it! Yeah that video was a great escape. 🙂
May 9, 2020 at 11:48 am
That would be so cool to see the glow worm cave!
Love the painting, and yes I see the way the rocks are yelling. 🙂
May 9, 2020 at 9:24 pm
Thank you! I’m glad and relieved that you see the rocks yelling. 🙂 I don’t like carnival rides at all, but the glow worm cave would be a ride I’d want to go on again and again.
May 14, 2020 at 12:58 pm
🙂 🙂
May 9, 2020 at 12:17 pm
Love the post… The cave seems like an interesting and fun place to be.
May 9, 2020 at 10:30 pm
I’m so glad you love this post, Damyanti. The glow worm cave might be a little scary, but so beautiful. My kind of fun. Thanks for stopping by!
May 9, 2020 at 1:50 pm
I enjoyed your post. The painting is beautiful.
I am claustrophobic so no caves for me. I tried a few and panic attacks are not fun, so I shall pass on that experience. I enjoyed your description fo how it makes you feel.
May 9, 2020 at 10:54 pm
I’m so glad you enjoyed my post even with the claustrophobia. I am afraid of heights. I used to work on overcoming this, but now, I have better things to do. 🙂 Take care! Thanks for reading!
May 9, 2020 at 2:07 pm
A beautiful reflection on caves 🙂 I didn’t enjoy my experience of visiting a cave in Ceara/Brazil. I panicked when our tour guide turned off the lights and left us in total darkness. Too claustrophobic. The glowworm cave is amazing! In the darkness, I got the impression of looking up into the night sky. Your painting of leaving a cave and moving out into the light is a striking metaphor for life after a divorce. Now, those of us who have been under lockdown must soon leave our caves and go out into the light of a new normal.
May 9, 2020 at 10:58 pm
They turned off the lights in the caverns which I found interesting for the 30 seconds or so of total darkness. Had it been much longer than that, I suspect I would have become increasingly nervous. I’m glad you enjoyed the glow worm cave and my painting. We will go out into the light one step at a time and hopefully carry the lessons with us.
May 10, 2020 at 2:47 pm
❤
May 9, 2020 at 3:45 pm
The glow worm cave is magical, lovely. I see the face yelling in your painting. I feel the perspective is looking out from the cave and almost out of the entrance.
May 9, 2020 at 11:54 pm
Thank you for these affirming insights, Deborah. I think you’re on target with the painting. On some level, I knew there were better and beautiful things out there.
May 10, 2020 at 1:57 pm
This is a great piece off the prompt. I love the photos, JoAnna.
May 10, 2020 at 10:10 pm
Thanks, Laura. Glad you liked the post.
May 11, 2020 at 6:17 am
I love your cave drawing… I’m glad you exited.
Love, light and glitter
May 11, 2020 at 9:21 pm
Thanks, Eliza. I’m glad I did, too! Lots of adventures since then!