Waking up to darkness

What a shock I had this morning. I awoke with a start and it was pitch black outside. I tried to go back to sleep but my internal clock wouldn't let me. 4 a.m. and nothing to do but lay there and listen to the natural sounds of the house. The fridge running, the coffee pot rumbling, the cat scratching at a basket to make sure I was wake to keep her company and fill her food and water dishes. Now that I'm up, she's asleep on her window perch. She just wants me up to attend to her creature comforts.

It's starting to turn light outside but not enough to tell me what kind of day this is going to be. I'll be surprised to find the sun eventually but I don't think so. Oh me of little faith. It's been raining so long that I've made peace with it so expect the same. Yet the weather man assures us that there will be some breakthrough sun with the bouts of rain. It is heavy feeling this morning so I'm more inclined to think it will be muggy. I'll take whatever the good Lord sends me and try not to complain about it.

I love having the house to myself mornings and enjoy watching the darkness turn slowly to light. I'm such a morning person and son Jon is the same. Hubby, on the other hand will sleep until noon, but is up most of the night reading or watching his war movies. He is the night owl and lives more in the past. He would have made a great Daniel Boone. I on the other hand am the morning lark. I guess I'm afraid I'll miss out on something good so hate to waste the new day with my head stuck under the covers.

He likes it dark in the house with the curtains pulled in the mornings. I like the windows open and the light shining in. They say opposites attract and we are definitely opposites in every way. I jump out of bed and am wide awake, he takes hours to become alert and able to move about. And so it's always been throughout our soon-to-be 49 years of marriage. Somehow we managed to have 3 wonderful sons. No, I'm not day dreaming, they are wonderful. Now that the terrible teens are way in the past. We lost our youngest son, Russ, in October of 2000. Somehow I've accepted it and gone on with my memories and day to day life.

Last night the two grandsons, Josh and Dutch, came over to spend time with their dad because they weren't able to make it for Father's Day. They had a cook out and the smell of ribs cooking on the outside grill had me salivating. I settled for something less fattening though and let them have their time together. I was glad Uncle Jon was included. Family means so much when we are living so far away from one another.

The boys came up to visit us and gave us hugs and kisses. Even as grown teenagers, they still give the hugs and kisses grandparents so appreciate. Dutch watched a Wildlife program with me and then went back downstairs to be with the rest of the family. Hubby just read his book or tried to.

We had been telling the boys about the skunk who comes to visit us every night. They would go to the door and look for him but he was not to be seen. Most likely because I had removed the food dish for the feral cat.

When it came time for the boys to leave, they came up to say goodbye and it was as they were starting to open the door that the critter decided the time was right. I couldn't help laughing. They waited until it decided what it was going to do and then they thought it best to go downstairs and out the apartment door. Just as soon as they started down, the skunk also decided to go down and around the house. We yelled to them and they quickly changed course and came back up, making a hasty retreat out our patio door. Grandpa made sure it was safe as he shone his flashlight all around the back area even though the flood lights were on to light the porch and driveway. He wasn't taking any chances. (Smile). If there was a way of putting some kind of device on the critter to let him know of his whereabouts, I'm sure he would go for it. Me, I like surprises. I just broke out in a loud laugh at the thought of it.

Ah, the new day is now official. I can see the trees, patio and flowers. It's much too soon for the sun to appear if it chooses to, but the greyness makes me aware that there is much activity going on out there, but not much in here as I quickly hit the keys. I hadn't a thought as to what I would say today, but just jumped in and thought whatever comes out proves I'm still with it and lucid too! Yes, I'm definitely a morning person.

The birds are starting to chirp and make their morning sounds. I love it and as it gets lighter, there will be more racket. At the moment there is one wood pecker going to town on a rotten tree somewhere out front. We are surrounded by trees so see different species of wood peckers and also the large Flickers with the red heads. A big frog is letting loose also to claim his place in the morning quiet. This is my music. The sounds and rhythms that make my days worth living. No city noises or sirens in the night. Just peace and quiet as I make my way into a new day.

Hugs to all as you make your way into your new day.