Summer is taking its time to settle in. No one is complaining about the lack of heat. In fact, during my morning walks with the dog, it's a true treat to joyfully celebrate the cool spring-like mornings with the birds. All of us wake up with the sun, as it plays peek-a-boo with early morning cloud cover and rises above the foothills. There's plenty of dew to draw worms up to the surface. Robins rejoice in the bounty. Who knows what tasty treats the sparrows are feasting on when not fluttering to and fro'. My dog, Chance, loves to dart right right along with these winged wonders and, I swear, wishes that he could fly right along with them.
Our morning walk provides a magnificent mix of nature and neighborhood. Gravel crunches as we trek up hill on secret side streets. Traffic is slower, quieter, gentler as everyone sips their mugs o' joe. Lights pop on here and there, one window at a time. An occasional jogger breezes on by.
My dog and I buzz with the birds and head to our half-way point. Chance is rewarded and gets to cool his paws in our favorite stream. As he enjoys his refreshment, my eyes wonder southwest, away from the foothills. The morning breeze dances through the trees and around me. I sway with the branches, enjoying the cooling pause.
Who else delights in this gentle wind? No wonder it has grown quiet. A golden hawk's wings catch the morning rays and beckon me to watch. She gracefully finds the currents that make her happiest and floats. She catches another current and lifts up and soars. Her quiet, attentive strength takes command and seems so effortless. She glides in the light lavender sky in a large circle over a grove of cottonwood. No doubt her keen eyesight is slyly looking for breakfast, but it seems like the large eight that she's drawing in the sky is all that matters.
Resilient, graceful, intentional, focused. I choose to ride the tides in the sky with this stalwart lady. I stand tall and stretch. I take in the crisp, damp morning air. My lungs rejoice and I smile. A new day has begun.