Okay… so this has been one busy week and I do have a lot to be thankful for. So, here’s the short list. I am thankful my sister-in-law is home for the weekend. She is taking care of my mother-in-law for a couple of days. I am thankful my granddaughter is here for a visit. We saw her for the first time yesterday and she is a beauty. I am thankful for my daughter-in-law for enduring a visit with the old folks to show off the newest family member. I am thankful for my wife-in-law and I just cannot say enough about her. She is a jewel.
And, I am so thankful for a good night of sleep. For the past week sleep has been at a premium. We — the neighborhood — has been busy working on gardens, freezing some fruits and vegetables, trying the keep the youngsters busy, and guarding the swimming pools. Summer is always a bit busy, but for some reason this week has been unusually hectic — and I am thankful for all of it.
BUT, I am most thankful for the hours of deep sleep last night. I fell asleep before giving the last round of medicine in the house — everyone is still alive this morning so I guess my one miss didn’t kill anyone. I missed the rerun of “Castle,” my new favorite television program for times when I want to smile and remember what it was like to flirt and have a decent figure. And, I am thankful that I woke up this morning at 4:30 a.m. fully rested.
However, the “early to rise” feature did present a few problems. What exactly can you do at 4:30 in the morning when the rest of the house is still snoring? I walked the Boo. She wasn’t too thrilled to be outside in the pitch dark, or maybe she wasn’t too thrilled to be awakened to go pee and poop before her regular time. She balked at the idea of a walk along the sidewalk so I put her back inside.
Then, I set out on a morning walk. It was dark, but the streetlamps were working well. And, I have to tell you it was a wonderful walk. I couldn’t see a lot, but the morning smells were magnificent. In fact, I do not believe I have ever smelled such overwhelming fragrances coming from honeysuckle and other blooms in years. Maybe seeing the flowers takes away from the smell. That’s an interesting thought. Oh, well. It’s still early.
I returned home from the mile stroll and it was still dark. I decided to go to the store. Well, I’m not one to advertise for that big box store that stays open 24/7 — you know the one — but this morning it was my only choice. I strolled the isles until I found the rice milk, purchased it, and came home. Everyone was still snoring but the morning light was peeking over the back side of the ridge.
I decided to go for a second walk, taking the camera this time. I wanted to find and take pictures of whatever it is that smells so good in the dark. I walked 2.5 miles and never got a whiff. I think there is something about smelling in the dark and seeing in the daylight. Anyway, I snapped a few colorful pictures.
This flower didn’t have much of a fragrance, but I thought it is interesting. It is really a vine. And, the flowers dangle from the end of the vine that drapes from a crepe myrtle tree. I had to take this picture. There was no way around it — eye level and hanging across the sidewalk. But, it did not contribute to the early morning fragrances.
I had walked a mile and a half earlier in the morning. My second walk was about two and a half miles — and I was getting pretty tired. Not quite 7:30 a.m. and I was close to worn out — at the very least, in need of a cup of coffee. And, just as I was thinking how nice it would be to see a friendly face….
Okay, so maybe my neighbor — the jogger — was happy to see a friendly face, too. Or, maybe he just wanted his picture taken! Either way, it was a pleasant surprise to see another neighbor out so early. What is more surprising is that he is still smiling. I say, “still” smiling because I know he is on his way home and let me just say he has run more miles than I have walked in total today. Okay, maybe that’s not impressive, but trust me this mountain ridge doesn’t just wind around it goes up and down and up and down — and he’s about to come to a pretty steep uphill climb.
But, don’t you just love meeting people who are happy? And, to my neighbor I say, “Thank you for sharing a smile this morning.”
The early morning fragrances, the quiet walk and a smiling neighbor — all these things make Sunday mornings special. Today I am thankful for Sunday mornings.
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