The Shape of Today

Quiet!

For whatever strange reason, it's quiet today.

It's my Thursday off, and we have a holiday weekend incoming. School wrapped up yesterday about midday, and I figured the highway would be a solid stream of cars full of families heading off on vacation, but so far it's markedly quiet. I can actually hear the birds singing, I'm glad to say. It's a nice change.

When we moved here 36 years ago, there would be long stretches through the middle of the day when nothing moved on the road...people were at work, school, whatever. One could actually walk down the middle of the highway for a time, and hear approaching vehicles in plenty of time to get safely out of the way. Nowadays, I don't even like going to the mailbox. The "growth" I hear being touted by so many is coming at a heavy price, and few realize it.

For the moment, however, there's no noise...just a happy bird singing in a tree near my open window. Both of us are going to enjoy this moment for all it's worth.