Daylight come and more come soon
There are those who cringe at the thought of waking early, those who simply prefer the evening to morning. I am across the fulcrum at the other end of the balance, having lived a life of rising before the sun. It is 5:00 a.m. EST and I am on my patio, freshly showered and enjoying a second cup of coffee whilst keying these words on the old laptop.
This is a special time in Florida, but particularly here in Little Martin, just before the graying of the sky begins. The quite dark might be occasionally disturbed by the faintest rustle of a palm frond, but mostly there is stillness. Mockingbirds begin their song long before darkness ends; not the raucous screeching you hear in daylight when they defend territory but rather a soothing medley of sounds. Mix in the plaintive coo of mourning doves and the experience is moving, poignant.
You can detect the fragrance of gardenia, jasmine, and citrus when in bloom, heavy in the still air before the winds awaken. If I allow time for my eyes to adjust to the shadows, I sometimes spot a solitary, chubby-bodied night heron feeding or raccoons scrounging at the base of the orange trees. I enjoy the sweet, simple pleasure of not being hurried before meeting the challenges that begin a few hours from this quiet time.
What a beautiful way to start each day.