Another beautiful sunshiny summery day
a great stretch of
hot, hot, heat and very little
rain
where everything is so dry
when the pup gets to
zooming
big cascades of dusty dirt
bluster about
though, above
gorgeous blue skies where big white puffs of cloud
gently sail
someone, somewhere speaks of thunderstorms
but they never come
the occasional shade of grey gathers
easing the scorch of the sun
but then it’s gone again
out on the morning’s errands, I’m thinking again
of just how
I became so internally fearful
of
going
out
on my own, I mean
walking along, admiring the sky
noticing how parched and brown lawns have become
in this heat
while ours, having given up on growing grass
is dry, sure
but still, is in brilliant full bloom
just about a block from our house
a car approaches the stop sign, as I am crossing the street
then quite suddenly accelerates
coming oh so close to running me down
I stop short, pull my hand back from being hit and express my surprise
while this vehicle brushes past the skirt of my dress
and continues across the street
to the beer store
I stand dumbfounded for a few seconds, then
with my heart madly pounding in my chest
I walk four or five more blocks before I have maintained
a more natural
rhythm
is this… I wonder, into the universe
some kind of
test
at the flower shop, where I pick up
our farm share
I am greeted kindly by the lovely lady inside
back out on the street
I see the farmer himself, making deliveries
while he is already in his car
I express my gratitude anyway for the great benefits
of his and his family’s labour
on the way home, I brace myself a bit
for the myriad of smells and the brief cloud of smoke
I must pass
by the tattoo shop
where the occupants gather on the street
a few more steps along
a bell begins to chime, across the street, at Town Hall
I suppose ringing in the noon hour
although I have never noticed it before
I take this, as the welcome
of a
mindfulness bell
as I listen to the chimes
consciously I release the tight grip
on the bag
on my shoulder
and I breathe
for a moment I slow my steps and am aware
of each
foot
as
it
falls
and I breathe
I release the tension in my jaw, and soften
my
shoulders
and I breathe
slow and steady
softness returns to each muscle in my
face
turning back, the corner to my street
I see
my
little free library
the flowers, the bees
and a monarch
flying
free
through the gate,
a light breeze ushers me in
the dogs there to greet me
and I
ever so gladly
exhale…
it’s just always so good
to be
home ♥