Finding Privacy

Today I started laying stones for the walkway. I rented a compacter a few days ago to smooth out the rocks and today sand and a few rocks were placed. Doing it brought back memories of my first job out of high school as a hod carrier (bricklayer's assistant). Tapping stones into place, tamping down the sand in the cracks... brought back some memories from a long time ago. However, today my energy reserves don't allow me to work on the path for hours at a time.



Lots of flowers are showing up and here are just a few. Our first day lily came out yesterday.

The first really warm day came this weekend. It reached 81 degrees on Saturday. This whole week will be the first summer day that we've had.

As I look outside our view has become less clear due to some smoke. A neighbor must be burning brush- tomorrow is the last day to be able to do backyard burns.

I picked up a collection of poems called "Good Poems for Hard Times by Garrison Keller. Here is an excerpt from a poem by Robert Morgan Working in the Rain
...I thought he sought the privacy of rain,
the one time when no one was likely to be out...
It's an interesting thought about how inclement weather is a time to find privacy- whether it is rain or snow or intense heat. Many people don't venture out if it causes them discomfort- thereby leaving the bad weather to be enjoyed by those willing to be uncomfortable.

Robert Bly has a poem in the same collection and it too approaches the subject of privacy.
Driving to Town Late to Mail a Letter...
It is a cold and snowy night. The main street is deserted.
The only things moving are swirls of snow.
As I lift the mailbox door, I feel its cold iron.
There is a privacy I love in this snowy night.
Driving around, I will waste more time.


Joseph