Dreamy

Saturday, April 13, 2024

On Saturdays, the department store where I work part-time opens earlier and closes later. Today, I must be there, bright-eyed, when it opens. Yesterday, my schedule was late, starting at 5 p.m., and going until the store closed. Here’s the rub: I’m tired any day by 5 p.m. after working bunches here at home.

I was thinking about being tired while peering inside a drawer by the cash register. There, a bag of trail mix–it’s bad stuff, high in sugar and carbs. Weeks before, that bag was my reward for doing something the bosses liked. Now, diving into high sugar and carbs awakened and carried me to the closing hour.

Yesterday, also, it rained, and this morning’s sunlight is transforming the junipers and my fence posts from dull brown into golden shades. Lovely reminders, that I still live in a country-like environment, despite this once-small city’s ongoing, speedy building-up.

I suppose this still is considered a small city. But not to me, who measures its growth from when I moved here. Twenty years ago, I’d drive clear across town, from east to west, in five minutes and be headed to nearby mountains. Of course, that was before the ’08 financial crisis. After the economy improved, retirees began moving here, and new construction swung into action. A growing population and rising numbers of new buildings increased vehicle traffic and slowed driving times. These days, driving from east to west across town takes at least a half-hour or forty-five minutes.

Now, countrylike to me means being inside my home beside a big window, seeing golden highlights on trees and fence posts. It’s the same while walking downhill to the barn to feed my outside animals. There, trees and some acres of open space surround us.

It’s very satisfying that for now and in the near future, being at home is countrylike; the place is sweet.

Dear Friends: Now, putting aside dreams and getting ready for work. Diana