I love early morning walks. Usually we don't' run into too many folks, 'cause we are up so early. Today was no exception, even though we went out 2 hours later than usual (6:30 as opposed to 4:30). There were a few cars passing, and lots of birds out. Greta doesn't pay much attention to the birds, but I can't help but be lulled by the variety. In our front bush, lives a family of mockingbirds. In my neighbor's tree lives a small family of little finch looking birds. And there are several pairs of doves in our neighborhood - this morning, at the house on the end of the block was a dove, sitting on the roof softly cooing to her mate. For some reason, the soft cooing of the dove along with the warm muggy summer air reminds me of my grandmother.
See, I was the youngest grandchild on my mother's side. By the time I came around, my grandmother was retired. Whereas the older grandchildren never had the privilege or the pleasure, I was lucky: I used to spend weeks at a time at her house (she lived 30 miles from our house). I usually spent some time there during Christmas break, too. But going for a week or more during the summer is what I most remember....
See, in Texas, it's hot during the summer. During the day, it gets in the upper 90's and low 100's. The low temperature is usually in the upper 70's. And my grandmother didn't have central air. In fact, she usually only ran the fans, hating to turn on the "box unit" in the living room window 'cause it would run up her electric bill. At night, we would sleep with the windows open so that we could catch the night breeze. I remember listening to "Bill Mack" on a little portable radio that lay between our pillows as we fell asleep. And I remember waking early (I've always been an early riser) and listening to the birds: bobwhites, mockingbirds and doves, mostly - but sometimes there were blue jays squawking as they fought over the figs in the tree outside the bedroom window. I remember quietly rising so that I could crouch at the window to watch for the birds- look to see if any of the neighbors cats were out yet - and to better feel the breeze.
It wasn't long before grandmother would wake, and I would go outside and get the paper for her - then beg to "walk around the block" before it got too hot. She always agreed. It was a short block as she lived next to an alley - but I loved the freedom - and loved the morning commune with the air - and listening to the ever present birds....then I would come back, grab the current book I was reading and climb up into the tree in the front yard and read until it started getting hot - and then I would go inside and have breakfast and such... It was usually 9AM by the time I went in for breakfast - the birds has since quieted and the morning breeze became mostly non-existent....
I cherish the memories and these moments - thankful that they still live within my mind and deep within my heart...and glad for the moments that remind me they are there, buried away.