Ice Cream Parlor Chair, 2012
Dad bought me this chair, the other one too, but not the shadow.
Today is Sunday. It's still morning, but almost not. I comb tangles from my wet hair while listening to the radio. Garrison Keillor sings about farmers. I glimpse a bright blue sky through the slats in the blinds. The forecast for today is sunny with a high of 75 degrees.
Yesterday the cafe played good music while I waited, so I stayed a while. There was a show of sorts, at the park near the library. I was the only person there, something unheard of in most of the San Francisco parks I know, particularly this park, especially on a Saturday, late morning. Helicopter insects hovered in the sunshine between two evergreen trees. A tiny yellow-bellied bird flitted around making the sweetest sounds. Then I spotted a perfect spider's web complete with a petite hairy brown spider at its center. Just before I departed I watched a hummingbird poke his needle nose into slim red trumpet-like flowers, one after another, patiently visiting each one.
There is good in this world.
i'm so glad you are out there making observations like these. sounds like a good way to spend a sunday. xo
ReplyDeleteI know you know all about such things, Shari. You continue to inspire me.
DeleteWhat lovely moments!
ReplyDelete: )
DeleteI am sitting in my black ice cream parlor chair listening to NPR. The double life of Denise/Janis...
ReplyDeleteTomorrow I'm looking forward to picking up my coaster at the mailbox :^)
Yes, it seems it is a double life, and that suits me just fine.
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ReplyDeletedear denise, i used to listen to Garrison's show all the time. do you know if there is any way i can listen to him from here, on the internet?
i miss listening to his calm voice.
It seems you have a variety of options, Coco. http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/stations/
Deleteohhh, thanks so much denisse
DeleteSounds and looks like there IS a lot of good in this world and in your weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteGK on Sundays is great too.
Indeed! I just had a meeting this morning about some urban agriculture initiatives here in Australia and it just reminded me how many people are out there doing inspirational things to make sure these interactions with nature stay with us city lovers. Happy new week.
ReplyDeleteUrban nature. It does exist and it is a beautiful thing.
DeleteIt sounded like we had similar sensibilities today -I spent the day in Lincoln Park, marveling at the trumpeter swan, the light of an afternoon that waned a little more quickly...
ReplyDeleteOh, Lincoln Park in the autumn. Fabulous.
DeleteI'm glad you had those days. I had a 'there is good in this world' moment today when I ditched my to do list. Instead I went to hang out with my girls and then just sat and watched the abnormally warm wind play with all the beautiful colors we still have. Tonight I caught a glimpse of the sky and realized I hadn't looked at the stars since coming out of the field. I took care of that.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Rachel. That's how you live a life.
DeleteAh, I sense some fellow optimism....
ReplyDeleteYes...
Deletegarrison keillor sings besides writing?
ReplyDeletea happy feeling of contentment on a bright sunday... brilliant moment, by the sound of it. incidentally, and much unexpectedly so, i had the luck of going through similar motions, albeit in the rain, and sheltering from it, in a folksy café on a grand'place.
still can't get over that garrison keillor, singing. (oh, okay. i just googled him.)
n♥
For you, N. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a55BV-wcy5I
Deleteand I read this in front of a welcome late afternoon fire while combing hair still wet and very tangled after swimming (I always forget a comb). Envious of your quiet, beautiful - warm! - Sunday.
ReplyDeleteA late afternoon fire. Ah. Very nice.
DeleteLovely calm post. I need calm today. I am already clenching teeth in anticipation of tomorrow.
ReplyDeletexo Jane
Yes, and here we are.
DeleteYou bet there's some good and you're part of it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rachael.
Deleteit's those at-first-unnoticed things that make the world more noticed, isn't it? It's God/Nature/Higher-power's way of asking us to "observe"
ReplyDeleteIt's working.
Deletethat last line. yes. and i'm so thankful for it, trying to be mindful to create a bit too :)
ReplyDeleteGood choice. I believe it makes a difference that reaches farther than we know.
DeleteIt's been a while since I read a blog post as beautiful as this one. Thank you for that! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, such a compliment. Thank you, Camila Faria.
Deletethis sounds like the first page of a novel. now i want to keep reading. :)
ReplyDeletex
I'll be writing for a long time. Stay tuned, Jane.
DeleteSuch good observations. I feel the need to slow down and look around a little more each day. Thank you for the reminder friend.
ReplyDeleteNo problem at all, Alexandria. You've reminded me to do the same on so many occasions.
Deleteyou communicate such a beautiful sense of calm . Thank you for the lovely post
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Imene.
DeletePicked up my mail yesterday and there was my coaster. It's really sweet Denise... I set it near my sewing machine to hold my cups and to inspire me. I love it...
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Janis!
DeleteI like your words filled with the internal calmness. beautiful you have a life!:)
ReplyDeleteHaving just hopped up from combing tangles from my wet hair as I listened to the radio, it is nice to stumble across that very action in your beautiful observational post above. I particularly like your descriptions of nature around you, from the hovering "Helicopter insects" to the "tiny yellow-bellied bird" that makes "the sweetest sounds".
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy spending time reading your posts, Denise. Thanks.
Such a beautiful sliver of your Sunday. I'd have known it was a weekend just reading that last paragraph. It's restful, yet alert to the rest of the world. Slow like a Sunday.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous writing.