Late Starts and Summer Days

Bleh! This is one of those days where I move as though I am moored in extra-thick molasses up to my waist, and everything, even changing my beloved geriatric cat Homer's water, seems to take an interminable amount of time.

And so it is, that with the sun shining outside, it is nearly 3pm and I haven't done more than stick half my body outside the front door yet.

So why am I writing this? Because I want a reminder I can see to get going early in the day, and then come back later to take care of the small stuff. The small stuff will swamp me everytime if I let it suck me in!

One of my errands is to drop off a thank-you card to a friend who gave me a basket of home-grown, heirloom variety tomatoes. When I was growing up, eating slices of beefsteak Jersey tomatoes with a sprinkle of salt was a treat as profound as the most luscious dessert. In case you haven't noticed, most supermarket and even many farm stand tomatoes have the excitement of moist cardboard to offer. The tomatoes my friend gave me were thick, red, juicy, and flavorful, each variety in its own way. So I made a very, very quick collage as a thank you (and potential bribe for future gifts of tomatoes, I must admit)! Here it is - and now I am off on my day's adventures, late, but still eager to enjoy the sun.

An hour on the canal -

The day before yesterday, I went kayaking for the first time on the canal which runs through my town. It was a blissful summer afternoon - sunny but not sweltering - and I felt enterprising. I love being on the water, although I am relatively inept. A kayak was new to me. The young man at the kayak and canoe rental gave the kayak a smooth shove after I clambered in, and euphoria suffused me. I paddled along, trying to keep my strokes smooth and rhythmic, and felt so blissfully relaxed I couldn't imagine why didn't get out on the water everyday. (The answer to this question? Real life, alas!)

Along the way I encountered several turtles sunning themselves, including a baby turtle. I wondered if any of them were descendants of the turtles my parents would get me periodically at the pet store, and eventually set free at the lake or canal.

Streaks of brilliant lobelia cardinalis blazed along the banks of the canal at one point - such a clear, hot, vibrating red that I could hardly believe it was real.

I prudently turned back half an hour out, so my canal trip was an hour. Today I have a blister on my right thumb as a souvenir - and evidence that I need to work on my paddling technique.

I don't know why it is so difficult for me to make time for life-enhancing outings like this, which are, after all, not that time-consuming. All I know is, my life would be better if I did, and so I intend to work on consciously incorporating more walks, drives, kayaking, canoeing, and the like into my week. So why am I sitting here writing this? It's time for me to take two hours on this luscious afternoon and do something different from my routine - I hope to report on my exploits later!