Listening To The Sound Of One Acorn Crashing

This is the lounger I bought at the beginning of summer. I got it because I thought maybe, just maybe, if I had such an item in my backyard, it would entice me to...um...lounge.

Even though, I’m really not the lounging kind. But I’m working on that. That’s why I bought the damn thing, right?


By the way, don’t you think it looks great with my cushions? I’m always admiring the shot of color it brings to my garden. Like the way a Buddhist monk’s saffron robe adds some fire to a Zen setting.

There’s no doubt about it. I like my lounger, I really do. It’s just that I’m always admiring it from afar instead of while I’m in it.

Like from my kitchen window as I’m doing the dishes. Or, if I do get outside, as I'm sweeping up the millions of acorns falling like whistling bombs from our ancient oak tree. Or in between holding my breath while picking dog shit off the lawn. (Just for the record, I don’t recommend oak trees. And I strongly suggest thinking long and hard before acquiring a dog.)

So anyway, here’s the part where I come clean. I’ve probably sat my ass down in this lounger, oh, about three times this whole summer. And that could be an exaggeration. Actually, it is.

However, last weekend as I was walking down my street to the corner deli, my eyes almost popped out of my head. Through a screen of fir trees, I spied my neighbor Kara. She was on her own backyard lounger, reading a book. Yes. Reading a book.

Why is that so astounding, you’re probably wondering? And if you’re not, just humor me okay? It gets really lonely out here in the land of Blogs are Us.

Because, I’ll tell you. Kara is even more Type A than I am. Not only is she extraordinarily busy running her very successful design business, I know for a fact that she irons every stitch of clothing that comes out of her dryer. Even her sons’ t-shirts. Oh yes. I'VE SEEN HER AT HER IRONING BOARD.

So. If Kara can put down the iron and sit outside in her lounger, so can I, damn it!

With you as my witnesses (yes, that would be you, my twelve faithful followers), here’s the promise I’m making to myself. I will NOT let this beautiful pre-fall weather pass without taking a few moments out of my day to sit in my lounger.

Uhhh, okay. That's too much pressure. Maybe every other day. And, if all I manage is ten holy minutes listening to the wind rustling through the leaves and a trusty acorn (or more!) crashing down, I will consider this lounger worth every penny. And then some.