Garter Snake

Garter Snake
I can feel the sun’s warmth radiating on the other side of the path. I uncoil slowly moving toward the heat while stretching every inch of the way. Mid path I feel heavy footsteps and quick shallow breaths. Dogs and hikers. Damn. I freeze. I stay frozen even when the high pitched screaming starts.

“Oh my God. Oh my God. A snake. I didn’t even see it. It’s a snake.”

And laughter from the other hiker. “He’s just trying to cross the road. It’ll take him awhile.”

The footsteps continue and become memory before I make my way across the path into the long brown grass on the other side. Close call.

Perspective

One morning, one backyard, two dogs.......

Ernie

The crazy lady who calls herself Mom is slipping her feet into her flip flops. I spring to all fours and make it to the bedroom door just as she is opening it. I run and slide, run and slide down the hall beating her to the sliding glass door. I am now desperate for a patch of grass, any patch of grass. It has been a long night in my bed under her bed.

I am breathing heavily as I hit the lawn. I spend a few minutes searching for the just right spot. I lift my leg and ahhhh sweet relief. The light summer breeze gives me the all the information I need about the neighborhood.  That cat ran across the lawn again last night. I tried telling her last night. She was rude and told me to shut up. The family that shares our back fence has a pot of beans cooking. I can also hear the chickens next door enjoying breakfast and planning their day. Like they do anything. I trot over to the side fence we share with them.

"Ernie." She warns me. Then I hear the Boxer next door and race to the fence. With my fiercest bark I warn him to stay on his side of the fence. He yells the same message back at me.

"Ernie!" I jump away from the fence. "Go. Into. The. House."

I race back into the house. The sliding glass closes.  

The Boxer Next Door

Stepping into our backyard I hear the soft cluck of the chickens two yards over, smell the cat I warned the family about last night before being told rudely to shut up, and feel the rush of the dog next door. I see his nose in the hole in our fence. He is growling and the fence is shaking because he is pushing against it. I race over toward the black quivering nose and just barely feel the wet cold  when I hear the lady next door call him off.  I breathe in through the space formerly occupied by his nose. That cat had been through their yard too. And ohhhh Ernie had steak last night. Lucky. And don't ask how I know. You know how I know.

My day in detail,,,,,,,,

So, here goes my day,,,,,

• The alarm went off at 5:40 so I hit snooze twice.
• Finally hauled my butt out of bed and lurched downstairs with my dog Ernie and my daughter's dog Lola.
• Walked Ernie and Lola and was 50% successful in my attempts to get both of them to take care of business.
• Fed both dogs.
• Went upstairs to take shower.
• Went downstairs after the coffee I had neglected to start.
• Climbed stairs again to brush hair after starting the coffee.
• Went back down for a cup of coffee.
• Checked on my daughter to make sure she had roused herself.
• Watched part of the second episode of Grace and Frankie while sipping coffee.
• Got dressed, made bed, gathered belongings.
• Drove daughter to her bus stop on the way to my teacher inservice.
• Greeted school friends old and new before finding a seat with a colleague.
• Sat far too long listening to what could have been said in an hout. Day was pretty much like that. Frankly, I was so flipping bored most of the time....don't want to relive it.
• Drove myself home, walked dogs, fed dogs, cleaned animal cages, made tomorrow's lunch, prepared tomorrow's coffee....ready to brew.
• Went upstairs and took a nap to Grace and Frankie.
• Got up and wrote my three journal pages.
• Practiced guitar.
• Went to a Friends of Lois meeting.
• Went to grocery store to buy dinner items.
• Came home to make dinner.
• Am planning to pick daughter up from work, have a nice glass of wine, and go to bed. 

Not at all an exciting day. But I enjoyed seeing all my friends from work. It feels like we are getting ready for another great school year. Also my late afternoon meeting was a blessing. I have friends there as well. We support each other on our life journeys. I guess this little exercise helps me see how meaningless life is unless you take time to sit with people who are important to you. Even though the inservice was not a dynamic experience, I enjoyed the community of learners. Hmmm! Important perspective.

Something to look forward to.......

This one is easy! I look forward to Christmas! I love Christmas! I love all the parts of Christmas....putting up the tree and bringing out all the decorations. Most of my decorations were gifts from students. I remember each student and think fond thoughts about her/him while I unwrap the ornament and place it on the tree. And the food. I love the cookies especially the biscotti. My mother game me an awesome recipe so that has become a favorite. I enjoy wrapping gifts especially while watching all the Hallmark holiday movies. I have movies I DVR and watch each year. What's not to love about Genie Francis in The Note? Of course, I love the gifts. It's not all about the presents, but the gift giving part is super fun.

Two years ago I started celebrating the 12 days of Christmas which took me all the way to January 6th. I didn't plan elaborate things. It just gave me a cushion of time to watch all the wonderful films, listen to my favorite CDs, and read the heartwarming books. There was something obscene about the way my family would erase Christmas completely as soon as possible once the 25th had past. Now I get to start my own traditions which means I can celebrate as long as I like.

How many days until Christmas again?