“In the morning a man walks with his whole body; in the evening, only with his legs.”
The radio woke me up this morning. What a horrible way to wake up, blasted out of bed by unnatural sounds. I set it because I have to be somewhere by nine and wanted time for a cup of coffee, the paper and this blog. It’s a dreary morning, a damp morning. I heard it rain last night. It fell gently.
The Baltimore oriole is back this morning. He found the feeder I filled yesterday with grape jelly. I’m guessing it needs more jelly today as the rain would have washed some away. All of the feeders are now filled, and I threw some corn on the ground for the squirrels. I am not totally heartless, even a rat’s cousin gets fed in these parts.
The other night I was coming home from my friends’ house down the street. It wasn’t really late but, still, none of the houses were lit, and the street was totally dark. The stars were bright. The night was lovely. I got home and went out on the deck to sit for a little bit. It was chilly, but I had on a sweatshirt and was comfortable. The only night noises were a few peepers. I seemed as if I were the only person left in the world.
When I travel, I love the odd hours, especially the early mornings. I get to see different sorts of sights like streets washed and windows unshuttered as stores are readied for business. I get the freshest rolls for breakfast and watch people hurrying to work. It’s looking at their real world, their daily lives. I remember women in dowdy dresses covered in aprons sweeping the sidewalks in front of their houses in a small town in Portugal. They reminded me of my grandmother. In Ireland, I watched the fishing boats leave the port. In Africa I could smell wood fires and hear the rhythmic beat of the pestle as fufu was being made.
I never need an alarm when I travel. I am up early every day, all the better to see the world.
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
June 17, 2010 at 9:39 am
I like getting up early and checking out the area when I am in a new place. That’s how I discovered that squirrels in Kansas City, MO are brown. Like rats. They only came out in the early morning. I had been there almost two weeks before I saw any animals other than people. They did not even have pigeons. Coming from the Boston area, I found this very strange indeed. It was almost eery especially since the city is home to tons of statuary, fountains and lovely perchable roofs.
June 17, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Caryn,
Other than the odd one I saw last week, I haven’t seen brown squirrels yet alone ones which come out only in the morning. Walk through the Boston Common and squirrels are all over the place as are pigeons. Strange, as you say.
June 17, 2010 at 12:56 pm
I´m always an early morning person no matter where I am in the world.
I remember when my brother lived in Paris. I used to get out real early justv too see when the café owners swept the street and put out the small tables and chairs outside on the street walk. It smelled coffee and bread from all over the place 🙂 I really don´t like big cities but I love Paris in the early morning!
Have a great day now!
Christer.
June 17, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Christer,
I spent too many years getting up early, around 5, so now I sleep in until usually around 8.
Your description of Paris is exactly what I’m talking about. I always love the day to day routines you get to see in the morning.
I hope yours was a great day too!
June 17, 2010 at 5:15 pm
I started waking with no alarm at 5AM every morning when I was in my early 50’s. I can’t sleep late. Sometimes on weekends I do feel I need a nap but it’s always only for an hour. I do have my annual PET scan next week and have to be at prep at 8AM. That would worry me so I’ll set the alarm for sure for that appointment. They freak out if you’re late.
But most days my wife and I wake within a few minutes of each other always at 5AM or soon after. Glad to hear you are feeding the squirrels. So now you get a star in your crown and thanks for the Irish saying. It is a funny one!
June 17, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Z&Me,
I dragged myself out of bed when the alarm went off at 5 and longed for just another hour or so of sleep. When I first retired, I was always up by 6 at the latest and hated it. I wanted the luxury of sleeping in. Now I am usually up my 8 but I do go to bed pretty darn late.
June 17, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Unusually late for me at 10:00 today. But then 1:30 is late to bed. I used to have a Ben Franklin misquote as one of my favorites: “Late to bed and early to rise makes a man have red eyes.” 😉
June 18, 2010 at 9:21 am
Rick,
I’m adopting that quote as my own! I find some nights I’m up as late as 1:30, but I don’t care any more. I know I can sleep as long as I need to.