The mix of summer camps behind us, today our family returns to the routine of school. The adolescent roosters in our yard were crowing with enthusiasm at our early start. Paul and I rapped a few rhymes before he headed out the door with a smile on his face. The buck watched us from across the field as we walked towards the bus stop. A juvenile heron perched on an overhead power line was entertained by the frogs launching from the pond's edge and the ducks quick paced waddle to escape the curiosity of Sprout.
Upon arrival at the bus stop, I was inspired to give an impromptu stump speech.
I paused a moment into the speech to ask Mom if she thought the second grade girls would like my hair.
With the cows mooing in the distance, we sat on our old familiar stump waiting for the sound of the school bus before it rounds the corner.
From our vantage point, we spotted a praying mantis.
Mom says he's a symbol of good luck, stillness, meditation, patience, mindfulness, calm, creativity, and balance. I'll take that as sign of things to come this year.
