The weather has shifted the last few days from the heat of last week to cooler days and nights, but that will probably change as August still has a way to go before it gives way to September. Last night was perfect for sleeping at 70° despite two big dogs who don’t respect personal space beside me on the bed.

The morning is quiet and still. It is also quite lovely with a breeze and dappled sunlight shining on the leaves of the oak trees. It is only 73°. I’m in the den, my everything room. It is dark here. The sun moves around the house from front to back. The den is in the back.

Today I need to vacuum the tumbleweeds from the hall and living room. They jump and whirl in the air when I walk by them. They are composed of Henry fur. When I scratch him, white fur piles on his back. I’d brush him, but he is Henry who has a quirky personality, and I know he’d find brushing a personal offense.

When I was a kid, summer seemed endless. I was up and out early. I didn’t want to waste any part of the day. I’d be at the playground for most of the day or exploring on my bike. I remember one ride had me ending up on a main road two towns over. It was a new spot, but I had a sense of where I needed to go to get home. The obstacle was the traffic. I had to move my bike across two lanes of cars so I grabbed the handlebars and ran. I was greeted by not so friendly horns. I think I held my breath until I reached the sidewalk on the other side. When I got home, my mother asked about my day. I didn’t tell her about the traffic and the horns. I told her I had just ridden around which was enough of the truth.

My mother taught me how to tie my sneakers. I remember she was sitting on the living room chair, and I was kneeling beside the arm of the chair. She held the sneaker and slowly showed me how to manipulate the laces to make the bow. I watched a couple of times then she had me try. My first few attempts were unsuccessful. I couldn’t get the looping around and through to make the second part of the bow. I got frustrated and wanted to send my sneaker airborne, but my mother patiently showed me again even slower than before. I finally got it, but I had created the loosest bow known to the civilized world. After a while I did get better at tighter bows. My sneakers eventually stayed on my feet.

My dance card has a concert tonight from 7-9 on Main Street in Hyannis and another tomorrow from 6:30-7:30 in Sandwich. The weather should be perfect.