There is a welcome need to go out tonight under the stars with the fireflies to walk and sing to a sleepless one on my chest. It’s dark and quiet and hot and a breeze blows the hot air against us, a small refreshment. It’s lovely to be called out late into a summer evening. Too easy to be indoors, to miss being under the leafy trees and the influence of memory of so many younger summers when there were ample reasons to be outside late. Perhaps I feel the energy as if I’m still on California time. There was a luscious swim; how cold the lake water is! Such shocking pockets of chill as I swim around the island, Charlie right behind me. I have a long morning walk in the heat and this is his and my refreshment after a long walk through muggy buggy woods. Then, so much watering, I am a watering maniac, all the flowers, all the vegetables, all the young and newly planted trees have dry roots and yet are still in bloom and holding. Be strong! I am home. Oh squashes, you’re plenty already. Cucumbers, I see your blooms, I sense you coming. My little pumpkin leaves coming up from the dry soil, have this drink. But this is what I feel about you weeds: I will not let you have my serenity. I will not feel stress. I will love some of you, as you bloom and cheer me. Some of you, I will pull you up when I have time and energy and a cooler day. Until then, let’s just be at peace with each other. Let’s not worry each other. Do you know what green smells like? The essence of green, the color, I decide as I descend my friend’s stone path down the hill to the lake, emanates from sun heated ferns. Oh, the wild azalea in the wetlands, welcomes me home.