Slacker!

Dear Maria,

You’re right, I have been slack. Slacker than slack. And don’t be nice about it. When you’re right, you’re right. However…

Uh, nope, I’ve got nothing.

Bluebird tally, I’ve got that. Two new males and a female. Watched one of the young males go after a target 80 or 90 feet away from the condo. Couldn’t see if he made the hit because he flew away from me into a neighbor’s Leyland cypress.

Oh, saw a kite last week—first sighting. I’m guessing it’s one of the pair that summers here. Our local hang-about hawk is still providing the early morning alert. Not sure how that works out territory-wise, but given the number of squirrels about, perhaps they achieve some kind of psychic bird airspace treaty. Or do they buzz each other in intimidating fashion. I would guess they don’t want to go at it talon and beak. But these matters of contested airspace are above my pay grade.

Spring was in hyper-drive. Viburnum bloomed this year, ligustrum are blooming, and the roses skipped the mass bloom and went right into mass bloom and spiking with stems carrying multiple flowers. Lantana are flowering, the plumbago are ahead of schedule, tea olive were spectacular and now the jessamine is perfuming the patio. Yep, pretty darn good.

As for the news of the Cruz missile crashing, I have nothing to say. As for the election upcoming—or as it appears it will go—I have nothing to say. Oh, I have my opinions—going with silence as a virtue even as I am sure we will see more and more quotations extoling speaking out being the higher virtue. But, it’s only May.

Coming up on 3 years out of the classroom. It struck me—more a thwack than a bolt—how some students who sat in front of me when I was in my late 20s might have blossomed were they to have been with me when I was in my 50s. And the reverse could surely be true. Speaks to my sense that you do the best you can where and when. No great insight there, but better than suggesting giving 110%.

No specific plans for much of anything this summer, or May for that matter. Lollygagging. Now that suits my pay grade.

Have fun. Pat the kids on the head, which should make them roll their eyes.

Yours, srk

P.S. The fall from the back of the truck was a short one and gave me a moment or two to watch a few fluffy clouds float by. The blue sky took my breath away. All good.