Fine summer morning

I was up later today (6 am is sleeping in) as we have off for a furlough day from work.  The weather is fine. As good as a summer morning can get.  I opened up the downstairs windows and let in the cool breeze and the sound of birds.  These kind of mornings remind me of growing up in the north woods.  Everything was quiet and calm.  I was always an early riser so these days bring back memories from deep in my being.

I have the first load of laundry in the machine.  It will go out on the line to dry today.  I started dusting and straightening up the house so I can get the floors washed and feeling good again.  Open windows make staying in to do these tasks so much easier.

Quiet mornings like this can make it feel like you really don't live in the city.  I can close my eyes and easily imagine that I am sitting outside the camper with my first cup of coffee.  That first trip is so close, and a morning like this makes that vacation seem within reach.  I can get through another tough week at work with my system in recharge mode.

Yesterday was the 4th of July.  Our neighborhood walks together in a parade complete with marching band to Jackson Park.  We have ice cream provided by Cedar Crest (it is the best you can buy in the grocery store in Wisconsin).  After the flag goes up, I walk home.  It is still early in the day, enough time to get together food for a family cookout and still be able to sit in the shade of the backyard enjoying each other's company.  My kids are grown so they also enjoy the lack of activity with me.  The day stretched on forever.  At night, we went to one of the several fireworks shows within a few miles of our home.  The day lengthened out with the shadows and the breeze felt good.  Even the fireworks went off in a slow, easy fashion that made me sleepy and relaxed.

We make so many decision in the course of a day.  Sometimes we get overwhelmed by the amount of things that need to be done.  Rushing to and fro seems the only way to accomplish all that HAS to be done.  I need to remind myself more that working towards a vacation is not any way to live life.  I have to take the moments that life gives me each day to get from it the good things that are there all along.