Sun, song, and Leon
“Oh! How I love a sale… I’m glad Typist brought home a few daffodils from the grocery yesterday. The morning sunlight illuminating the opening buds is so… yummy,” Urania said.
“Ummm…” Calliope fidgeted with her zipper, “… it’s Sunday.”
“So?” asked Thalia.
“Well, we’re not supposed to write on Sundays.”
“Pfffft! Making rules about not showing up on Sunday is almost as ridiculous as not spending the extra 99 cents for a bunch of daffodils. Creativity isn’t tied to the ticking wall clock. If she’s got something to say, she says it.” Thalia turned up the volume on one of her favorite songs. “Do you think if a songwriter is gifted a lyric on a Sunday that they ignore it?”
“Good point,” Nia agreed.
“Okay.” Rule-follower Cal agreed to be a rule-breaker. “Since we’re here anyhow, can we tell our readers about Leon?”
“Typist can do it.” Thalia started pulling ingredients for scones from the pantry. “We have a fisherman’s accomplishment to celebrate this morning. Let’s get baking!”
A word from Typist:
My Lord, what a morning!
(I think that’s from Porgy and Bess? Anybody know?)
Sunshine warmed my cheeks on the morning stroll.
My favorite fisherman is home safely with a trophy. The vicarious mother’s joy I feel is like a red helium-filled balloon lifting into the sky.
Oh! And Leon… Do you remember that shortly after my diagnosis, the only thing I could think to ask for was uplifting clips, quotes, and photos? You all have been filling my cup and I am really grateful!
One friend has introduced me to Leon — a rescued grocery store lobster. I find myself drawn in and fascinated by the creature’s transformations. Nature is amazing! And by the way… I believe humans are a part of nature. Do you?
I'm most fascinated by Leon's 17 million views! Maybe debut authors building their platform need an exotic creature in a tank. Maybe I can have my husband film me wearing a costume, sitting in the bathtub. Is that breaking any rules? (Just a thought that made me smile. Hopefully you smiled, too, Gail.) And yes, we are all part of nature--"the external world in its entirety"--per Merriam Webster.
Yet another feast for one’s senses! Delightful daffodils don’t dawdle. “Leon” is a wonderful crustacean expose! Stirred memories of a fresh water tank I bought for my son when he was 7 or 8. Long since fledged, we just found a new home for it last year. Almost 30 years.
We just returned from a 60 mile drive in the country, with a long stretch of dirt roads and large expanses of plantation property. (As they are still named to this day) Wild grape vines bearing new leaves formed boas around the trunks of majestic live oak trees. Wisteria vines about to burst out in their beautiful clusters of purple blossoms. A high flying Bald Eagle was nonchalantly ignoring the much smaller dive bombing bird. Seeing old African American AME (African-Methodist-Episcopal) churches, one with a hand lettered sign, offering the times of twice a month services. Some churches had full parking lots. Others, their lots empty, awaiting their circuit preacher to hold Easter services next Sunday. Or maybe the next?
That was just part of celebrating my birthday today. Cards from friends old and new. Texts from old friends with good memories. Plans for a nice at-home dinner tonight! A special ring from my wife connoting 24+ years of continuous sobriety, inscribed with words from AA. The phrase, “To Thine Own Self Be True.” It used to be harder when I didn’t know myself.
Going out on a limb, I’ll guess that celebrating Nathaniel’s accomplishment yesterday will involve more than scones?! Has he shared that news at the bait & tackle shop where he worked over the years?
“Oh Lord, what a morning!” Not sure if it’s from Porgy and Bess. It reminds me of the line from Fiddler on the Roof. Zero Mostel, when asked how he was doing, replied, “Full catastrophe living!” Later that became the title of a book about mindfulness, by Jon Kabat-Zinn.