TITLE: I'LL BE IN MY HAMMOCK! By Missey Butler 04/10/06 |
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Hot diggity! Summer’s here…and the liv’n is easy. Time again to tie off the rope hammock under the blooming Mimosa, and heap on the charcoal briques, as we ready the grill once again for those mouth watering, ground sirloin “Have it your way” hamburgers! You can sense the excitement in the air as we head into this last weekend of May, traditionally known as the kick- off season for the long waited for Summer!
This particular holiday weekend is shaping up to look like many of the Memorial Day weekends from the past. The interstate traffic is at a stand still as the local news helicopters report that cars are backed up for miles, resembling an endless row of what look like ants, slowly making there way out of town to various vacation spots!
The Doppler radar is reporting fair skies with the high around 80. A small piper cub airplane putters at low altitude trailing a streamer of advertisement. The message displays an invitation to all beachcombers, “Come and enjoy an ‘All-you-can eat’ dinner buffet of crab-legs with a spectacular fireworks display on the boardwalk this evening!
I have to admit, all this gala and excitement was starting to make me feel a little blue. I know. How could someone possibly feel down, when everything and everybody is SO up? It’s the beginning of the Summer season for goodness sakes! But that was just the problem, everybody in the whole -wide world was having fun …except me. Can I hear some violins please!
To be honest, one of the reasons I was feeling down was that our family finances had hit an all time low, and we would have to for-go any vacationing for a while. Hubby and I had been tightening our belts for so long, that I was beginning to feel like the featured star in my own version of “The Grapes of Wrath.” And frankly I was getting a little tired of the “all work and no play” theme song that my life had somehow taken on.
Then, I heard the voice of my closest friend as He whispered “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6).
Yes Lord, I am very familiar with that verse, but if you don’t mind I’d like to just sulk here for moment if that’s ok? So off I went, like a pouting child. I threw myself into the embrace of another good friend…my backyard hammock. There, my folded arms became a pillow as I gazed upward at the eclipsing pine needle branches as they swayed in front of the bright sun. I watched almost hypnotically while the green needles played “peek-a-boo” with my squinting eyes.
After a while, I began to think about all that I had to be thankful for. Suddenly the scene around me began to change as my attitude lightened up. From my hammock I quietly began to take notice of all my surroundings. The relaxing tap, tapping sound of the neighbor’s lawn sprinkler’s as it made its’ repetitive cycle. The little girls across the street loudly vocalizing their ice-cold lemonade for sale at only 25 cents a glass! I looked over to see my husband bent over the broken lawn mower, turning his ball cap around backwards, signifying that he was gonna get that baby run’n no matter what!
I watched as Murphy, our 12 year old sky terrier was completely mesmerized by a nearby dragon fly. Champ and Ivan my other two dogs were playing “tug of war” with a plastic Frisbee, while Miss Poody Tat, our beloved calico cat was sneaking up on a very unsuspecting Blue jay. Yep, life on the farm is pretty laid back and I thank God I’m a Christian gal!
Even though the world may be busy with more thrilling and exciting weekend festivities…For me, I’ve discovered that holiday weekends at our household can be quite a nice little get away after all. If you need me, you probably already know where you can find me…I’ll be in my hammock.
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