I had to get up at an unholy hour today as Elijah is going to work with his uncle. I knew it would be a good diversion for him so I encouraged him to go, but now as I wake and it’s not quite light yet, I’m wondering what I was thinking? I drag myself out of bed and shuffle to the kitchen to get my coffee, wishing there was a way to just mainline the caffeine directly into my body sort of like a caffeine drip. Somebody should invent something like that. I bet it would be a hot seller!

I’m starting to feel a little bit more human after a few sips and I head up to wake EJ and make sure he has decent clothes on. The thought occurs to me that he can just pick out his own clothes and I could just sit and inhale my coffee, but then I remember that he thinks tie-dye shirts go with his camo pants and I decide that I better supervise just to be on the safe side. All goes smoothly and I am delightfully surprised that he doesn’t give me a hard time getting up and seems to be in pretty good spirits. In fact he is in a better mood than I am and he doesn’t even get any caffeine! Of course he went to bed at 9:30 the night before, while I could not fall asleep until much later.

We decide to sit out on the front porch and read together while we wait for his ride and I can feel my mood shift drastically. I love the outdoors, the wildlife, the flowers, the weather, the fresh air and the sounds. Something about being outside early in the morning just puts me at ease and fills me with this almost eerie sense of calmness and contentment. That’s my meditation, my center, my “happy place” for lack of a better explanation. After Elijah leaves I sit quietly by myself watching the neighborhood come slowly to life and wonder what the day holds for me. Somehow I just know that it is going to be a good day and since I have made the decision to face the day with a positive attitude, it will be.

Anthony calls and we have a nice chat and catch up and it feels almost normal again, to hear his voice as if he is just at work for the day and has called home to check in. For a few minutes we can forget the distance and just talk. I feel closer to him briefly and then I have to let him go. The day goes on.

The highlight comes when I make the daily trek out to the mailbox. I honestly expect just bills or junk mail, because that’s what is usually there. Instead, I am the recipient of the most enchanting little postcard that is clearly handmade with pictures cut out and pasted on the front. Intrigued, I turn it over to reveal that my five year old niece has sent me a thank you postcard for inviting her to come over and swim in the pool this week. She hasn’t even come yet and already she is thankful for just the invitation. How extraordinary! Kudos to my sister for teaching her to show gratitude.