Sat on the porch this morning in the swing and ate my breakfast. Another beautiful day. Been trying to describe the clouds. The edges of them are dusted with grey, getting ready for the rainy days ahead. Lots of cardinals, nine pair I can count. There were nine pair on the feeders at dusk last night when I went in the house. Cardinals seem to like early mornings and late afternoons. The male downy woodpecker ate his breakfast on the suet feeder. His red feathers on top are so pretty. Crayola red.

Been watching the little green lizards sunbathe on the bannisters. I looked to see if they left any footprints in the pollen but didn’t see any. Guess they don’t weigh enough. Their real name is green anole. Chief called them little dinosaurs. I call them, “can’t stand yous!” I know they are God’s little creatures but wish they would vacate the porch and invite the blue tail skinks to go with them. I’ll be relaxing in the swing and one of them will stick their head out of a crack in the bricks and my mind says, “Snake!” They always creep up on you.

Was cooking supper years ago and just felt like something was looking at me. It was one of those green lizards sitting on my shoulder! Another time I was putting a strip of duct tape down the middle of the double doors in the library, to stop a draft, and I just stuck the tape right down on top of a lizard. It was too late to turn back. I felt so bad I had murdered the little critter. Didn’t tell Chief!

Stew loved to catch them when he was a little boy. He’d rub them on their stomachs and they’d go to sleep in his hand. My oldest son once caught a lizard during a wedding ceremony before it could jump on the bride at the altar. Penelope has chased them often but hasn’t caught one yet. Guess we have a history with the green anole.

One of my classmates drove by today and recognized me sitting on the porch. She turned around and came back for a visit. We had a wonderful conversation and look forward to getting together. I really enjoyed her visit. That’s the third person who has recognized me on the porch and stopped for a visit. Every time somebody asks me what I’ve been doing I say, “Sitting on the porch.” That’s the beauty of being old and retired!

Went to my nephew’s baseball game tonight with oldest sister-in-law and had the best time. Cheered and clapped for my nephew’s team. Ate a hot dog and French fries and drank a Coke. Tube steaks from concession stands are always good. Saw lots of folks I knew. I people watched and enjoyed seeing folks hug and men shake hands. The children in the stands were happy and a group of teenager girls were giggling and flirting with the boys. Grandparents were cheering their grandchildren on. Made me realize how wonderful life is in small town America. The pace is slower, conversations are easier. We all are acquainted with each other and familiar with our families. He won his game, too! Seriously, nothing is better than baseball in small town America.

One of my favorite thing about small towns is the traffic is easier, too. When I was in college one of my roommates was as scared of driving on a two lane road as I was of driving on the interstate. She had learned to drive in a city surrounded by interstate highways and I had learned to drive in a small town. Taking my driver’s test in Wedowee was scary enough for me.

Small towns are salubrious and comfortable. We gather together during times of uncertainty and work together. Roanoke rallied around my nephew when he was seriously ill. His family was supported in so many ways. I would run errands in Roanoke and see so many folks wearing T-shirts that were sold to support him. The prayers for him were many and loud. He’s well now and happily living the life of a college freshman at Auburn University.

Life in a small town is slower paced and conversations are easier. Things you experience growing up in a small town make wonderful lifetime memories.