Porch Life

Get up when I wake up. No alarm. No schedule.

Stretch.

Put on the espresso.

Roll the dog out of bed and to the back door.

Give the dog a treat and open the front door.

Pour the espresso, grab a biscotti and follow the dog to the front porch.

Listen…

Birds chirping. Get out Merlin for identification.

The train passes in the distance with its long whistle and rhythmic bumping wheels on the tracks.

Roadwork to the south – the town is growing.

The neighbor gathers her baby who is chattering as they head to day care and work for the day.

The lady walking her dog with music playing quietly from her phone. The next lady who is on her cell having a conversation about work.

Dennis passes by for his daily morning walk with his big, black doodle and his pleasant neighborly call of “good morning”.

Breathe…

I’m greeted by the scent of freshly cut summer grass.

Someone is baking bread – or is it a nearby bakery?

There’s a dampness to the air…a summer raindrop or two has fallen on the hot pavement.

Feel the fresh breeze coming across the porch from the west.

The sun moves in and around the clouds, through the leaves of he abundant trees – at times warming me, at times shielding me from the warmth; always refreshing the air.

And me?

Just taking it all in.

Planning my day…and “planning” is a loose term.

Basking in the joy of porch life.