"Always Forever" by Bodhi Smith

Aug 25, 2023

us
together
connected
always forever
in love so lovingly
is there anything better?
 
MY THOUGHTS
Feeling this love between us flowing free, the only needed feeling, always forever, no matter what.  ― Bodhi, Always Forever
 
Here I am with my faithful best-buddy Besos, we're the perfect two under a gorgeous canopy of stars, next to the eerie beautiful Alien Thrown in the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness in the Bisti Badlands of northwestern New Mexico...he's loving spending time with me in this wild and remote place that looks like another planet in the middle of nowhere. We're on another one of our many adventures together, feeling free and alive in this rugged landscape navigating our way in the darkness of the night, trusting in only the Milky Way and GPS to guide us where we want to be. But in reality, what's most important is sharing time with each other, anywhere together is where we both truly want to be, "Always Forever"... 
 
Always forever, no matter what―devotion and unconditional love flowing between us, as the infinite heavens smile knowingly above ― Bodhi, Always Forever
 
Besos is a 5-year old Blue Merle Australian Shepherd who is extremely intelligent, and equally athletic―to see him play frisbee is to see a performance artist in action. He has high energy and keeps me on my toes...sometimes he can be a total "auss-hole" by being too ornery and obsessed, but he's always forever devoted to me and gives me his unconditional love, which I reciprocate back to him...the little guy needs me, and I equally need him...
 
Together, he and I have had many adventures, seeing so many of the most beautiful of sights which North America has to offer us, experiencing so many wonderful times together...so far to date in his 5 years of life, together we have hiked close to 1000 miles and driven nearly 50,000 miles while visiting all 48 of the contiguous states in the USA (i've photos of Besos in each state)...
 
We're writing our own happy ending, one word at a time ― Bodhi & Besos
 
After the Dude passed, I had a huge void in my life after sharing 15 great years together. I was forlorn and lost. I just didn't want to even think of another puppy to carry on his role in my life...it was the loneliest summer of my life in 2018...then magically Besos came into my life at exactly the time when I needed him. and 5+ years later, he continues to be the center of my world with vitality and emotional support every single day...
 
Besos literally earned his name within five minutes of choosing me, and if you ever get close enough to him, you will know exactly why. (Besos means "kisses" in Spanish)...
 
When we're together i'm the happiest, completely complete, our energy a connected connection  ― Bodhi, Always Forever
 
And with that giant ball of passionate life burning brightly inside his 60lb frame, Besos is energetic and lively, always wanting to play or go somewhere right up until the moment he goes to sleep for the night beside me...he's super smart and has one hell of a vocabulary, sometimes he's too smart for his own good, and can be like an annoying child who's always asking "why?"...he keeps me on my toes and active, he makes me smile and laugh, and he can be super annoying as well with his obsessive focus on things sometimes...
 
But I love this crazy little furball dearly and deeply. He's all I have, and I'm all he has. We always take care of each other, I've my good side and obnoxious quirks, and so does he. I wouldn't want it any other way, or trade my doggie for anything...separating him and me is just never gonna happen...
 
True enlightenment is a realization freeing myself of me ― Bodhi

Besos helps me "free myself of me"...which is letting me go into the moments that I never knew were so important. There are no ordinary moments. There are no coincidences. Live every moment like it was your last, and make every moment last so you can live. Each moment I have left is precious, and every moment I get to share with those I love is equally as precious. and these moments will always be cherished, not ever taken for granted, Always Forever...
 
Thankfully my soul was given its own ears to hear things that my mind did not understand. Now my senses have all come alive and my body is attuned to the details I previously misunderstood. I truly see, hear, touch, taste, and smell nature now without any distorting filters, all at once, filling up all of my senses with its serene aura...an all encompassing peace with Besos Always Forever at my side

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be ― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
 
When Covid19 struck in March of 2020, it was impossible to travel to other countries as international borders all shut down. I was relegated to doing all of my travels within the boundaries of the United States, visiting all 50 states in that time frame, with most of those trips being by car in my 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Besos riding shotgun (all except my three trips to Hawaii, one to Alaska, one to Tampa, Florida, and one to Seattle, Washington in the winter of 2021)...I did not need to be at my house in Fallbrook, California, because anywhere I was with Besos was home...
 
Home is not where you are from, it is where you belong. Some of us travel the whole world to find it. Others, find it in another soul ― Beau Taplin
 
He's a great travel companion, truly keeping me company and watching out for me...he's super athletic and agile, and can go with me anywhere I can physically go. Like me, he's pretty much scared of nothing (he's not too fond of packs of yipping coyotes or hives of swarming stable flies however)...sometimes he's a bit too firey and overprotective, but that's just his way, as he's used to being around me all alone, having me all to himself most occasions...he loves me unconditionally, as I do him too, Always Forever, no matter what...
 
I've taken so many fantastic pictures of Besos in cool and exotic locations during our travels, but I've not professionally released many of him yet, but with this impression and more to follow of my best friend, that's about to change...
 
Mister Besos "Puppa" Halo Smith...born on July 3, 2018, he came into my world shortly after the Dude passed...and this little guy literally saved my life, I love him so much, and we have been devoted to each other, inseparable since I first held him in my arms and looked into his eyes on September 11, 2018" ― Bodhi & Besos
 
Us together, connected always forever, in love so lovingly. Is there anything better? ― Bodhi, Always Forever
 
Love is patient, love is silent, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. it is not rude, it is not loud, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love is both the darkness and the light out of the darkness. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always forever perseveres ― Gautama Buddha
 
 
Released in early January 2021 off the movie soundtrack, To All the Boys Always Forever, this beautiful song is a cover of an original tune released back in 1996 by Donna Lewis. With its deeper meaning of deep love in it's lyrics, and the way it's so beautifully sung, this song is quite simply the perfect music to accompany my impression and blog today ...  "I Love You Always Forever" by Bettty Who (Donna Lewis Cover from 1996). ... (just click on the blue links to listen to any of the songs)

Feels like I'm standing in a timeless dream
Of light mist, of pale amber rose
Feels like I'm lost in a deep cloud of heavenly scent
Touching, discovering you
Those days of warm rains come rushing back to me
Miles of windless summer night air
Secret moments shut in the heat of the afternoon
Out of the stillness, soft spoken words
I love you always, forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere I will be with you
Every sin, I will do for you
I love you always, forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere I will be with you
Every sin, I will do for you
You've got the most unbelievable blue eyes I've ever seen
You've got me almost wilting away
As we lay there, under a blue sky with pure white stars
It's all the sweetness, magical time
I love you always, forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere I will be with you
Every sin, I will do for you
I love you always, forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere I will be with you
Every sin, I will do for you
Say you'll love me forever
Never stop, never whatever
Near and far and always and everywhere and every
Say you'll love me forever
Never stop, never whatever
Near and far and always and everywhere and every
Say you'll love me forever
Never stop, never whatever
Near and far and always and everywhere and every
Say you'll love me forever
Never stop, never whatever
Near and far and always and everywhere and everything
I love you always, forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere I will be with you
Every sin, I will do for you
I love you always, forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere I will be with you
Every sin, I will do for you
I love you always, forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere I will be with you
Every sin, I will do for you

 
and this beautiful song released over 10 years ago in 2013,  "I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)" by Michael Franti and Spearhead. is another perfect tune to give listen to today, I love the line--"All I wanna do is be with you, and life sounds like:
 
I'm Alive"
One, two
One, two
Here we go
Everybody wants me to be who they want me to be except you
All I wanna do is be with you
They all tell me that there's something strange
I don't wanna be with nobody new
All I wanna do is be with you
Life sounds like
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
(This is what it sounds like)
Whoa-oh-oh, I'm alive
How could every day something jumps in the way
Gets complicated, I feel devastated
But when I'm feeling down, I only wanna be with you
I can't afford the rent or remember checks I sent
To pay off all my taxes and feed the president
But there's one thing I remember, I only wanna be with you
Life sounds like
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
(This is what it sounds like)
Whoa-oh-oh, I'm alive
You be Bonnie, I'll be your Clyde
Hop into my car and drive like
Fireworks, we will ignite
Through the San Francisco night
Like John and Yoko
Like Ice-T and Coco
Like Jay-Z, Beyonce
Come be my fiance
Hey soul sister, I'll be your mister
Don't wanna be no one-night stand
How many things can I say to make you understand
That I only wanna be your man
Life sounds like
Whoa-oh-oh
This is what it sounds like
Whoa-oh-oh
And it sounds like
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
(This is what it sounds like)
Whoa-oh-oh, I'm alive
Everybody wants me to be who they want me to be except you
All I wanna do is be with you
Life sounds like
Whoa-oh-oh
(This is what it sounds like)
Whoa-oh-oh
Life sounds like, like, like, like, like, like...
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
(This is what it sounds like)
Whoa-oh-oh, I'm alive
Life sounds like
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
(This is what it sounds like)
Whoa-oh-oh, I'm alive
 
 
SPECIFICS ABOUT THIS PHOTO
What's most important is sharing time with each other, anywhere together is where we both truly want to be, always forever, one together. ― Bodhi, Always Forever
 
In order to create my vision, two separate exposures were merged and blended into creating this composition...
In my photography, I always use filters to create longer exposure effects, saturate colors naturally, and balance the light in my composition in-camera...I often use as many as four filters at time, and I always use at least one filter in my completed impressions...
 
And to get the effects and balance I was looking for in this composition, I used two ProgreyUSA Filters. along with the ProgreyUSA G-120Z Antarctic Magnetic Holder. to secure these filters to my Nikon D850 with a Nikon Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. ... 
 
Camera settings for Stars: 
ISO-5000, 55mm at f/2.8 for 11 seconds using no filters. Image taken in portrait aspect about 11:27pm MST on July 11th, 2023
 
Camera Settings for The Alien Thrown and Besos: 
ISO-64, 44mm at f/4 for 44 seconds in portrait aspect using one ProgreyUSA 0.9GND Aurora Filter. to bring down the sky 3 stops.along with a ProgreyUSA 3.0ND Antarctic Magnetic Filter. to stop down the image 10 stops and permit for the longer 44 second exposure which helps to soften the sky (easier for blending it with stars) and to naturally saturate all of the earthly hues in the picture...and man was it tough to get Besos to lay still for 44 seconds, needed a bunch of takes to finally catch him right! Image taken about 45 minutes before sunset at 7:47pm MST on July 11, 2023...
 
I wish to openly thank my sponsors who have always supported me through both the good and bad times...for truly this long exposure impression would not be possible without the use of my Induro PHQ3 Series 5-way Panhead with an Induro (now Benro) Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod. in combination with the ProgreyUSA Filters. which I use with every photo I take...
 
contemplate without thinking. be certain only in your uncertainty, content to be completely incomplete. stop the rush. slow down time. breathe and notice. slow down everything. let it all be. shut off the noise. hush. relax. seize this higher moment. reconnect. feel and sense what surrounds you. listen to all the colours of light whisper as they envelope you. see the melody and harmony that float about unnoticed. taste the solitude of all this wonderment. smell the beautiful silence. now discover your peaceful serenity. then, reach out and touch your faith with all your senses. this is my world. awaken! ― bodhi, my world
 
you were blessed with 84,600 seconds today, have you used one of them to say thank you? ― bodhi, blessed
 
I leave you today wishing that bright joy 
and spiritual peace fill your life...
imploring you to make every moment count, 
no matter what, always and forever, 
for that is the only thing that truly matters... 
 
And above all else,
I hope this message and impression find you well.
 
Namaste,
Bodhi
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#Always #Forever #Alien #Thrown #Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah #Wilderness #Bisiti #Badlands #Farmington #NM #Blue #Merle #Aussie #Shepherd #Stars #Milky #Way #nightscape  #astrophotography #mystical #love #soulmates #peace #content #happy #mindful #surrealist #impressionist #expressionist #Besos #Bodhi #Smith