Morning
by Rob
Today we’re waking up in Indiana. We’re at the home of our friends, Lyn, Phil, Olivia and Grant. They moved here from Schenectady last July. Phil says that this will be his last stop before retiring from the Army, which will be either next spring or the following spring.
Our trip yesterday from Grand Rapids was uneventful enough to seem pleasant. No delays. Little traffic. Nice weather. A descent lunch spot at the right time. Little arguing in the back seat.
This is no shock to other people I’m sure, but it’s flat here. I have been in the rolling whatever of upstate New York for so long, that I’m sort of awestruck by how flat it is here. From the Koenig’s house, you can see for several miles in every direction. Phil stood in the yard with me last evening and pointed out farms, business locations, and other things off in the distance.
After dinner last evening, Kim and I talked with Lyn for awhile. Phil and Grant went to a Boy Scouts meeting and Olivia went to work. It was so pleasant, really windy at first, but bright, warm and bug free. We sat on the porch long after we finished eating and just chatted about life in Indiana. When the others came home it was after 9:00. There was still plenty of light, but the wind had completely died and the sky was cloudless. Within a few minutes, Phil had lit a campfire, and the boys were playing with fire crackers and running around in the yard. As the light faded and the fireflies came out, their play expanded beyond the yard into the surrounding fields of beans that border their property on three sides. In the west there was a beautiful glow of red and pink, while in the other direction, off in the distance, we could hear the sounds of the kids running and laughing in the fields. When I looked at my watch, I was surprised to see that it was just a few minutes before 10:00.
For the first time that I can remember in months, I was able to recognize the feeling of being relaxed and completely free of thoughts about duties and tasks. I felt joy, listening to the kids laughing and yelling, knowing that they were creating a memory that they’ll have for a very long time.
When I started to wake this morning, the light was beginning to creep into our room. Kim and I are staying in a room that faces east, towards the back of their lot. I briefly considered getting up to watch the sun rise, but fell back to sleep pretty quickly. When I got up at 7:00, it looked like the middle of the day, bright sunshine and clear sky.
Other than coffee, breakfast, and showering, my morning has been about visiting with Phil and Olivia and just being here. The boys just got up, but Abbie’s still in bed. That’s fine. Kim and I just talked about it and agreed, we don’t want to do anything today that requires planning or scheduling. It was a conversation that lasted about 7 seconds.
Finally, this morning, I feel like summer is here. I feel like I'm here too.
by Rob
Today we’re waking up in Indiana. We’re at the home of our friends, Lyn, Phil, Olivia and Grant. They moved here from Schenectady last July. Phil says that this will be his last stop before retiring from the Army, which will be either next spring or the following spring.
Our trip yesterday from Grand Rapids was uneventful enough to seem pleasant. No delays. Little traffic. Nice weather. A descent lunch spot at the right time. Little arguing in the back seat.
This is no shock to other people I’m sure, but it’s flat here. I have been in the rolling whatever of upstate New York for so long, that I’m sort of awestruck by how flat it is here. From the Koenig’s house, you can see for several miles in every direction. Phil stood in the yard with me last evening and pointed out farms, business locations, and other things off in the distance.
After dinner last evening, Kim and I talked with Lyn for awhile. Phil and Grant went to a Boy Scouts meeting and Olivia went to work. It was so pleasant, really windy at first, but bright, warm and bug free. We sat on the porch long after we finished eating and just chatted about life in Indiana. When the others came home it was after 9:00. There was still plenty of light, but the wind had completely died and the sky was cloudless. Within a few minutes, Phil had lit a campfire, and the boys were playing with fire crackers and running around in the yard. As the light faded and the fireflies came out, their play expanded beyond the yard into the surrounding fields of beans that border their property on three sides. In the west there was a beautiful glow of red and pink, while in the other direction, off in the distance, we could hear the sounds of the kids running and laughing in the fields. When I looked at my watch, I was surprised to see that it was just a few minutes before 10:00.
For the first time that I can remember in months, I was able to recognize the feeling of being relaxed and completely free of thoughts about duties and tasks. I felt joy, listening to the kids laughing and yelling, knowing that they were creating a memory that they’ll have for a very long time.
When I started to wake this morning, the light was beginning to creep into our room. Kim and I are staying in a room that faces east, towards the back of their lot. I briefly considered getting up to watch the sun rise, but fell back to sleep pretty quickly. When I got up at 7:00, it looked like the middle of the day, bright sunshine and clear sky.
Other than coffee, breakfast, and showering, my morning has been about visiting with Phil and Olivia and just being here. The boys just got up, but Abbie’s still in bed. That’s fine. Kim and I just talked about it and agreed, we don’t want to do anything today that requires planning or scheduling. It was a conversation that lasted about 7 seconds.
Finally, this morning, I feel like summer is here. I feel like I'm here too.
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