Saturday, February 12, 2005

Saturday Morning

There is something uniquely wonderful about Saturday mornings. 
I love waking up to the sound of the birds waking up.  Their insistent chirping lets me know the day has begun and, like it or not, it is time to get up and get moving.
The getting up and moving is my favorite part.

I’ve started a new Saturday morning ritual for myself.  I get up, wrap myself in blankets and watch the sunrise.  Wonder Kitty and I hang out for awhile watching the birds.  She runs from window to window knocking things over and cackling wildly at the birds.  When the sun is finally up and the day has officially started, I put on some jeans, an old sweatshirt and my coat and head out for a morning walk.  I go down to this great little coffee shop on the Ave.  They have the best coffee and the best ambiance.  I find myself wishing they had a location downtown so I could get a little shot of what they sell during the week.  But they don’t and that makes Saturday mornings even more special. 

Along with my coffee I usually pick up a pastry of some kind.  They are all fresh and (I believe) made by the owner.  They have these fantastic berry scones that melt in my mouth.  I know they are filled with cream and butter and love the baker for using real ingredients and not cheating my taste buds. 

After I pick up my coffee and pastry I walk around for awhile.  I like to check out the store fronts while the shops are still closed.  I can window shop all I want without the expectant or hopeful eyes of the shopkeepers on me.  I can simply look, breathe the fresh morning air and be. 

With hardly any people around early in the morning, the streets are mostly mine.  I can stroll as slowly as I choose with no pressure from the world.  I get to notice the trees blooming, the blossoms covering the sidewalk in a pink hazy cloud.  The daffodils are starting to rise out of the ground, sometimes in the most unexpected places such as outside the cash wash on the corner.  One little bloom making its way out of a throng of ivy to announce that Spring is on the way.

It doesn’t take long, this little ritual, and I am home in my cozy apartment once again.  When I venture out again later in the day the world will have changed.  People will be out, cars driving furiously to get to unknown destinations.  The birds, trees and daffodils will take on a different tone and color suddenly being secondary to the humans around them.  The air will not be as fresh.  But in a matter of 7 days it will be Saturday morning again and time for a stroll.