Dear Friends,
A breezy morning is upon us today. I hope wherever it finds you, that you are having a chance to rest, renew and relax. We had a nice quiet Saturday, free from the political campaigning that has been going on relentlessly for the last few days. Today is the day we finally get out to the polls and although everything points to the probability of a second round, I am hopeful high turnout will make someone a clear winner so we can all begin to work in our own circles of influence to make the lives of those in our communities better.
The world is observing us today. I read an objective article yesterday that praised our elections and I continue to be very proud of our long-standing democracy. It is not something to be taken for granted. The large number of people who likely remain undecided until presented with the ballot can’t be blamed; there are far too many candidates (25) to choose from. Apathy and fear are not good reasons for staying away from the polls. It is our right and our duty to show up and make an informed selection. Let’s do it early and then spend the rest of the day relaxing! I have already gone and come home, happy to see that others are equally motivated.
I’ve been making a concerted effort to pay attention to the small details that come with living in this small town. I look at the panoramic view that changes daily as I am sitting on the terrace. The angle of the sun’s rays paints the mountains all different shades and each sunset is an amazing gift from Nature. In the late afternoons, the birds visit and bring their friends along. I used to be less generous about sharing my terrace with them silently resenting their droppings even while loving their colors and songs. That is no longer my reality.
These days, I understand that the fact that the birds don’t fly away when I appear means that they trust me not to shoo them away. I had no idea how important that was to me until recently. It is very gratifying to see the persistent dove perched on the nest she built with her partner despite the many times the wind blew away its preliminary foundation. They finally succeeded and will no doubt soon begin to train their young ones to fly. Other nests are visible on the naked branches and are watched over tenaciously, guarded against the squirrels that are constantly running across. I am on the lookout for the hummingbirds’ nests, eager to see if their nests are as tiny as they are. I’ll keep you posted if I find any.
Have a great day and a terrific week, Marietta
Marisundays 