DROPS SETTLE ON LEAVES
SSSSSSSSS....CHECKATA, CHECKATA...................
MAN MADE RAIN FALLS SOFT

It's hot today. Like a regular July day. Went up north a few suburbs to meet a friend for lunch, and took the scenic way up, driving through neighborhoods of big houses and even bigger lawns. And with big lawns, or small lawns, in the July heat, comes a wonderful sound--the sprinkler. The ones that spray the yard in an arc, and then notch the way back to the starting point before spraying another arc of mist. Kinda like: "chekata, chekata, chekata, sssssss......" A wonderful rhythmic song for July.

In the city, where I live, the houses so close that the spray often waters not only the yard, but the sidewalk too. There are a lot of folks who find this a nuisance. I can see how that might be if they're dressed in business attire, or are carrying papers or groceries. Then the chekata, chekata, chekata, becomes a grown up counting song, helping them to time their passage of the sprinkler so they won't get wet. Of course, the shoes have to go on wet pavement, but that's doable. Sandals......well this usually means means a detour onto the parkway or into the street to avoid the drops.

When I hear the sound though, I find myself looking to see where the sprinkler is set up. My inner child often takes over and like kids everywhere, I deliberately walk through it. Sometimes even going out of my way to do it. I get wet, and that first bit of cold water can be a tad uncomfortable (read surprising). But what a wonderful thing it becomes. Not only does a sprinkler cool me off and bring a little relief from the heat (and as anyone who knows me knows at this time of my life I'm always hot!), but for those few blissful seconds, all the pressures and questions and cares that clutter my life melt away, and I'm 7 years old again, not a care in the world, and living gleefully in the moment.

Isn't it wonderful?

DROPS SETTLE ON LEAVES
SSSSSSSSS....CHECKATA, CHECKATA...................
MAN MADE RAIN FALLS SOFT