I’ve always been a morning person. My father, a native Texan, always said, “If you sleep in, you’re wasting away the best part of the day.” While I am almost certain that he meant that the heat of the day, especially in the summer Texas heat, would most likely make some tasks more laborious than others.
My father had a style of expressing himself in a way that stays with you, particularly with life lessons. His disciplinary style would often include rhetorical questions such as “Son, if you don’t have the time to do it right, do you have time to do it over?” I miss my dad.
That early-morning rising carried over to my all-boys boarding high school and later active duty in the United States Air Force. Over the years, it has proven to be my therapeutic spiritual time for reading and meditation. My quiet time.
While sitting on the deck watching the dawn, the steam from my coffee cup and the aromatic definition of its flavors are influenced by the bean origin, roast, and brewing method. Without getting too scientific about the chemical compounds that are released, I will share that they greatly interact with our sense of smell and, therefore, enhance the perception of flavor and create a complex aroma that can evoke positive emotions and memories.
My euphoric state of mind is suddenly accompanied by the call of my little but boisterous friend, the Carolina Wren. This tiny rust-colored songbird is known for its distinctive loud and cheerful song, which is sung primarily by the male. The song consists of several quick, whistled notes that are often described as three-parted, resembling "teakettle" repeated over and over.
Unlike the female Carolina Wren, which does not sing, the male has a repertoire of up to several dozen different song variations, typically singing about fifteen times before changing his tune. His a cappella voice harmoniously blends with my cup of coffee, creating the sound of “Smooth Java Jazz.”
Such is life in the morning at Lake Cypress Springs. Just like my powerful little songbird friend, we all have a calling in this life. And, it is incumbent upon us to embrace it, nurture it, and perform it to the best of our ability.
Thanks, Dad, for teaching me not to sleep late. And I promise to complete every task I undertake today with my best effort and do it right!
Blessings, m2
