It’s a little before 6 as I make my way to the Park, welcomed by a young raccoon.
He’s ambling towards his tree, in no hurry, like Huckleberry Finn.
If he had a fishing pole and a banjo, it wouldn’t surprise me. 
As I stretch my calves not 15 feet from him, he seems totally unconcerned by my presence, eyeing the trunk of his tree as if to say, fuck, these stairs are gonna kill me one day.
I watch him scooch up, inch my inch, when suddenly he stops when a head appears out of the tree window.
His mother, a girl friend? I think, if I see boxer shorts 
and a coupla cans come flyin’ on down, 
then I’ll know who’s waiting up for Rocky.
I watch him brave the consequences, before going on my way.
Towards the middle of my run, I see a rather robust girl in bright pink tights, like a huge chrysanthemum in flight. I lose her for a while, till I barrel around west, where there she is, by the cut-off, dancing her little heart out.
So inspired, I start to dance too, thinking what the hell, bumping like it’s 1975, against a tree.
When she sees me, she stops and yells, “Hey, what do you think you’re doin’?”
I yell back, “What does it look like I’m doin’? I’m dancin’, like you.”
She put her hands on her hips that reminds me of a cookie jar, my Auntie Ida once had, and says, “I’ve never seen any dancin’ like that.”
“And I say, ‘Till now,” before zooming away.
Hey, there’s plenty of room on that dance floor, there cupcake…bump…bump…bump.
Too often carefree is confused with cuckoo.
I’m so sorry for those who don’t enjoy their surroundings, whether a rambling raccoon or a dancing flower. Everyone should have a pause button in their busy lives.
“I see a rather robust girl in bright pink tights, like a huge chrysanthemum in flight”. Poetry in motion!
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But that’s what she looked like Skinny. I wear basic black, and maybe navy, but that color, can’t imagine wearing something so bright. As you can see, it left an impression.
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I woke up thinking of you Skinny, and how I impolitely glossed over your kind compliment. Please forgive me. I never take one well, especially in regards to my writing I often feel pales. Thank you, as always, for being such a constant, supportive presence in my life. Susannah
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You are welcome and it is entirely my pleasure!
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I’m always flattered Skinny, because you’re a teacher and all. 🙂
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Yay!! I love silly!! Keep it comin’! I’m gonna dance out into our North Carolina snow!
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I can see you out there…bump…bump…bump…:)
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Today I was out there doing a snow dance. We had our first real snow of the season. What a pleasure it was to walk while the snow was still falling!
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It’s really snowing there? Here it’s 50 degrees. I ran in shorts. I’ll bet it’s beautiful. 🙂
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NC snow is very well-behaved. It’s beautiful and nearly always melts the same day it falls.
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You’re in the old south Mint Julep and wraparound porch country. Bet there’s history everywhere you look.
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We have two covered porches and a deck, but they don’t wrap around anything except my heartstrings. The northeast has more history than we do here. There were many colorful characters living in the mountains, though.
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I’m swooning over… but they don’t wrap around anything except my heartstrings. As Skinny would say…real poetry there. 🙂
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I wish you could see our mountains.
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They always remind me of women’s shoulders in a backless dress.
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That’s a different way of thinking about mountains!
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It’s that crazy writer in me…plus I’m in the throes of rereading the Plodark series so, it’s as if I’m living in Cornwall, in the mid 1700s.
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We watched the series on TV years ago. It was riveting.
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The books are amazing. Winston Graham wrote so beautifully. It’s my second round yet still, increasingly impressed. The language alone, leaves me in a swoon.
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That’s marvelous.
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I’m in awe of great writers, paling in comparison. To think he wrote 12 in the series, not to mention all his other novels. Kinda takes your breath away Anne.
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For some reason, the whole visual here made me laugh. Big ole gal is getting snarky because a little one is doing her schtick. Thanks for sharing. 😁
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She wasn’t happy John. Granted, my bump was a little rusty, but I more than made up for it in my enthusiasm. 🙂
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You. can’t please all of the people all of the time.
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There’s an old song I like…Dancing in the Moonlight…
Everybody was dancin’ in the moonlight
Dancing in the moonlight
Everybody’s feeling warm and bright
It’s such a fine and natural sight
Everybody’s dancing in the moonlight…so take that, Cupcake.
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Yeah. Take that seven-layer. 🍰
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🙂
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A little bit of silliness in your day is a good thing!
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Yes, indeed. So early there Midget. My favorite time of day.
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I’m not completely sold on it yet. I enjoy the peace and quiet in the home for the first couple of hours each morning, before anybody else gets up. But, why oh why have I lost the ability to sleep in?!?!?
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Your art is up…wants to flex and stretch. Best time for it.
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😜😎
~Hal Rubenstein from my iPhone
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You’re such an easy laugh, for a Connecticut man. 🙂
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What a fun morning! 😆
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Wish you could have joined us. 🙂
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I love the variety of humanity (and zoomanity) you see while you’re out in the Park. It’s like a kaleidoscope of personalities. Thanks, as always, for taking us along for the ride.
-David
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I am a cub reporter deep down, making notes as I go. What I love the most is how, Nature never altars her schedule, no matter what. Raccoons amble home before sunup as bikers whiz around them. Squirrels romp, birds tweet while the trees seem to yawn.
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They’re the rhythms that have been going on longer than we have been around. I have a crew of birds that hangs out on the electrical wire outside my window. What a life. 🙂
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Nature stays in step, no matta’ what. Gotta hand it to her. 🙂
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Dancing is freedom of movement, combined with sheer madness. When it comes to distinguishing characteristics between man and beast, this is one of those rare instances where one of the differences is actually a positive.
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I love…between man and beast. Is there really that big a difference?
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Hmmm. I would think outside of shoe size? Nope.
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And perhaps a tail, or two…:)
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So cheeky.
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How I LOVE that word.
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I know it.
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How fun is that? Letting your silly loose! Life is way too serious and full of shit to not let go once in a while 🙂
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My silly knows no bounds and keeps me from putting my head in the oven.
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Thank God for that!
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Amen Sista.
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Pingback: The Great Outdoors — athingirldotcom – luckylukee
Kind of you. Thanks. Susannah
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