Capturing the present is another theme in the book. One goal Dillard has throughout the year is to live in the present moment. Throughout the book she has a few epiphanies about this: in the beginning of the book she feels to fully capture all that she sees, to really notice the details—like lovers do of each other—she must write about it. She must write about all that she sees, hears, feels, smell, touches. But, the moment she writes it, it becomes something of the past. Like Tinker Creek new water—new moments, a new present—is being pushed forward.