The morning is lovely. The late rain last night chased away yesterday’s humidity, and the day is bright with air so clear it accentuates all the color and beauty around me.

Yesterday I was an extra in The Birds, Part II. Crows came and five or six just sat on my deck rail and stared. Others perched on branches and a few hung off the suet feeder taking giant mouthfuls. I looked around for a phone booth just in case.

My birthday was perfect. When I opened my front door, there was a giant mum so big I couldn’t even get out the door. I finally grabbed the edge of the planter, tilted it away from the door and squeezed my way outside. The plant was from my friends Tony and Clare. They always start my birthday in the most spectacular way. My family called throughout the day with a few songs and well wishes, and I went to Tony and Clare’s for dinner. They made my favorites. Clare made deviled eggs, and Tony cooked a rib eye on the grill, and, despite the heat and humidity, Clare managed to whip up my lemon meringue pie for dessert. We played a card game. As befitting the birthday girl, I won and a bit later so did the Red Sox. Birthdays are lucky I guess.

Labor Day is not even three weeks away. Summer seems to go so fast now we have to grab on so as not to miss it. When I was little, it was different. The summer seemed endless. The days were long, and I swear every one of them was sunny. It was always noisy, even at night. My neighborhood was bursting with kids who played in the backyard and they were never quiet. The field near my house had a population of grasshoppers who sang all day, and the swamp had frogs. All the neighbors’ windows were open, and I could hear the murmurings of their voices. We never cared what day it was or even what month. I did take note of my birthday, but that was it. The rest of the days started and ended in anonymity. It was always a shock to hear my mother announce a school shopping day.