The horizon is backlit by a glorious yellow sunset as a silent, dark weight crouches over our cozy little home. I can hear fat juicy raindrops pellet the deck out the open kitchen window at the back of the house. The concrete of the front stoop refuses to yeild to the incessant barrage, out the screen door directly beside my perch. A healthy breeze taunts me, gently calling through that portal delightful scents of everything green, growing and wet. Summer is here and boy am I ready. There is something so nourishing about a good summer storm. It seems to draw everything violent and unsettled out from within me, releasing unto something much bigger. Certainly, no man has ever made me feel more tiny and delicate than the raw forces of nature. The field directly across from our little house teases forward some of my favourite memories in it's mimicry of a childhood waterfront cabin. The storms that blew in off THAT platform were enough to make a person dance and weep simultaneously (which I may or may not have done down on the dock in my bathing suit - NOT my birthday suit).
Just as knock-me-off-my-feet as a good storm is, are all the different parts of our son. I know every mother knows that her child(ren) has the utmost delicious bits ever to exist in life. I can't decide if it's the bottoms of his feet, the breadth of his tummy, his chubby little cheeks (both sets) or his soft [sleepy] hands. Those same hands are unintentionally torturous in his exuberant affection during wakefulness. Tickle, Tickle indeed, lil' bugger. He smells better than even everything green, most times. I'm always trying to steal little pieces of him by filling my lungs with his scent. If only I could carry that with me always.
Work has happily exploded for Patrick, which relieves the household budget substantially and feeds his own self to unknown heights. He's really feeling and growing on his own terms and doing well for it. He loves his work. After supporting me through my move from an incorrect career path to one that feeds me, I sing and dance at his white-knuckled grip on dreams begun. My kennel remains almost completely booked, with two or three days off at a time - just perfect for catching up on scouring and scrubbing. My grooming schedule could still be a little more dense but I'm satisfied with my growth rate. I'm pretty sure I'm retaining at least 98% of my customers. It surprises me how much I enjoy bringing a smile to people's faces over something as silly as a puppy haircut. Go figure. Our horse boarding venture is a raging success this summer. We've filled our "barn" with a gorgeous and diverse herd owning equally lovely people. It is quite nice to have a gentle hum of positive energy about the place that we can just happily jump into now & then.
Life smells so great again.
