We were primed to have coffee on the patio this morning and realized we had to dry off chairs first. Sometime during the night there had been a sprinkle or two. As I was having my first cup of coffee and getting my walking shoes on, I could tell Dennis’ mind was far, far away. I headed out for my walk and left Dennis to his thoughts.

As I was stepping it off on the county road I could not help but think that if Dad were still with us, I think he would literally be with us. There is so much heavy equipment buzzing around the town and the perimeter with the huge utility upgrade, Dad would find a tree stump that was handy and sit and take it all in. Digging down 20 feet to install new sewer line, water lines and re-routing gas lines has brought in an entire village of workers operating just the type of equipment for someone like Dad to be enthralled by. That doesn’t even take in the site that is next to my morning walk. All that has been taken out of the trenches of the street work has been piled high and now is being ground up for re-purposing for the post-installation.  Oh for the mindset of those creating all of this machinery to make it work.

As I was rounding the bend returning from my walk, I could see where Dennis’ thoughts had been. Far, far away to the back of the acre to get his riding lawnmower going. That sneaky fellow. The remaining yard work ensued with me pushing my mower and Dennis continuing with the rider mower. Ya, I am now showered and very tuckered out. What a great feeling to sit back and enjoy our home. Jokingly, Dennis commented if we lived in an apartment complex we wouldn’t have to put in all the local effort to keep things tidy. We looked at each other and knew deep down, no matter how tuckered we get there is no other place for us but on Stauffer Avenue.