Early Morning Musings

Today is Veterans Day 2014, and a big deal in this patriotic small town where I currently hang my hat (or scarf.) My youngest daughter had to be at work by seven this morning, and since I am her transportation, I was up at five and out of the shower and dressed half an hour later. I went outside to take the chickens some scraps from the kitchen and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the early morning sky.

The egg shaped brightness of the moon, was reflecting off the dew that lay on the leaves of my mother's bottlebrush tree. The effect was stunning and had me throwing my head back to observe the other lights in that inky darkness. I have a greater understanding of that old saying "it is always darkest just before dawn."

I did not stay out long ; I was in my tank top and it was a bit chilly. I made my girl some breakfast and when I next looked out light was changing and the landscape of this twenty acres was beginning to be revealed. As I was driving the several miles up to the only Publix in this county, I had to apply the brakes rather quickly to avoid ruining the front-end of my Toyota van. Two, four-legged shadows on my left suddenly were making their way across the country road, in to the stand of six year old pines on my right. As the does crossed in front of my headlights they slowed and I got a good impression of the graceful long slim legs, and rounded rumps that they possessed. Perhaps they will make it through this year's hunting season; If I had been going any faster they would not be alive now, and I would certainly not be writing about our encounter.

The rest of the trip to town was uneventful. I had a bit of conversation with my daughter, though to be fair, it was mostly me talking and a nod or shake of the head from the passenger seat.  The "highway"129  was empty, no headlights in either direction on a main traffic route, that on any other Tuesday in November would have a stream of halogen for miles. On the way back to my parents home, I noticed, as I looked east, toward Jacksonville, that there were multiple airplanes backlit by the rising sun; the pattern of their contrails looked like disappearing white punctuation on the soft blue expanse above the trees.

It was a lovely early morning. By nine, the folks participating in the parade will be making their way to the library to prepare for the mile long journey of waving and smiling at the neighbors and business people lining the route. The quiet will be replaced by the clamor of  marching bands, the loud discussions of  nearly deaf men, and the laughing of the little children and women watching over it all.

My life here in Live Oak is so different than the one in Jacksonville, but blessed all the same by the Creator God who formed me and watches out for me and leads me when I follow.

Until Later ~ Rita Darlene