Glimpses of Summer

As the sun poured in through our dining room window, I knew that I simply could not spend the day cooped up inside our apartment. Household chores were going to have to wait. The birds outside seemed to be singing a song to me, beckoning me to join them outside. How could I say no?

I looked over at my husband. Hunched over a thick book, he was diligently studying for his upcoming CFA exam. Without needing to ask, I knew that he would be at the table studying for at least seven or eight more hours, just as he had been doing every day for the last several weeks. There was no way he could join me, but I decided to head out for a bike ride and enjoy the weather anyway. So, I took off to one of my favorite places to spend a summer Saturday-the Olentangy bike trail.

For two hours, I relished the feeling of the sun's rays on my arms as my legs pedaled hard. I smiled, taking in all of my surroundings. All around me, were glimpses of summer:

Patches of purple flowers poking their heads through the lush green grass
and little "cotton ball" wisps floating in the summer breeze

Photo Creditt: Shandi-lee via photopin cc

Little girls with brightly-colored streamers blowing from their bicycle handle bars
and college friends relaxing together around a picnic blanket

Photo Credit: stevendepolo via photopin cc

Intimidating-looking geese protectively guarding their fuzzy goslings
and lively golden retrievers playfully splashing around in the lake.  

Photo Credit: JWagnonPhotography via photopin cc

Each of the 30 miles I rode held unexpected treasures. When I finally returned home after my people/nature-watching adventure, my heart was happy. It had been a splendid way to spend a Saturday afternoon...and the holiday weekend meant that I would get to do it all over again on Monday!

A picture from my own camera of my bike ride
along the Olentangy bike trail! 

Slice of Life is a weekly blogging challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

Check out their webpage and then join us each Tuesday to share a slice of your life!

A "No List Saturday"

Last night, as I closed my eyes to go to sleep, I sighed.  And then I did it again. They weren't exhalations of exhaustion, like the one that often escape my lips. These were were sighs of relief, of satisfaction, and of accomplishment. The week had been a long one and on Friday night when I closed my eyes, I finally breathed out the last of my pent up stress and inhaled the hopeful promises of a restful Saturday.

This morning, I woke up to the sound of nothing. No screaming alarm clock. No immediate thoughts rushing through my brain of all the things I had to do today and all the tasks I didn't finish yesterday. Just peace. And then suddenly...a novel thought..."What am I going to do today?" I don't remember the last time I asked myself that question. Even on Saturdays, I usually wake up to a list that is so long it would take superhuman powers to actually accomplish everything on it in a mere 24 hours. But on this beautiful, sunny, Saturday morning, there is no list waiting to be tackled.

Just the thought of a "No List Saturday" put a pep in my step as I strolled to the kitchen to make some breakfast. "Today is going to be wonderful," I thought to myself, as I began to think of the many activities I could fill my day with. I even popped an extra gummy vitamin into my mouth in the midst of my glee. After all, if it's fun to start each day with something that is "officially" healthy, but secretly just feels like candy, it's even better to begin a Saturday with more! 

So now, I'm excited, I'm full of anticipation, I'm at 200% of my recommended daily vitamin intake, and I am so ready to commence my day.

Sigh.