The Hammock

Today I lay in my hammock and watched a cloud dragon drift across the sky. I marveled at the size of the figs on my tree, as well as their sheer number. But I made a not that certain branches will need pruning after the fruit is ripe. We neglected to prune the plum tree this year and although it was laden with blossom in the spring the plums are few. The tree is too heavy with leaf and casts too much shade around it.
It has been ridiculously hot and I need to water some things twice a day. CPR must be administered from the hose pipe in the heat of the day or everything wilts. There are cracks and pops of fireworks resounding about the neighbourhood and I fear the danger of fire is great. Everything is tinder dry. Tomorrow is the fourth and everyone has a cache of illicit fireworks, there will be people on our balcony watching the Lake Union show. It is a reasonable view from here. We will be at the 15 th annual 61st Street parade all afternoon. When it began Rachael and her cohort were the toddlers, now there is a whole new generation coming up.
28 years ago I got married for the first time. Independence Day is always bitter-sweet for me. most people think it's just because I represent the losing side in that particular war, and i have been known to wear black to the parade, but really it is my personal mouring for a hideous mistake.
Life is immeasurably better than it was back then.