A redbird (to this southerner, a cardinal is a redbird) is on my neighbor’s wet lawn. Not finding what he is looking for there, he flies across the street to my yard. He’s so beautiful–bright and flambuoyant. I ask the Lord to protect him from cats. It’s okay to pray for redbirds, isn’t it? After all, it is the Lord who made him so gorgeous and noticeable. I think his wife sent him out for coffee and he’s frantically trying to find some. If I could, I’d tell him Starbucks is only a few blocks away.
My cup of coffee is empty. I ask Nemo if he’ll go refill it. He meanders over and looks up at me, wondering what I’ll say next. Seeing I’m not going to ask any other goofy questions, he shrugs, and returns to napping.
Two robins hop in fits and starts across the grass. I thought they were searching for worms who’ve come up from some dark tunnel to view the morning, but no! They’ve both found small, round yellow leaves. Snatching them up, they fly off. What’s so special about small, round, yellow leaves? Some nutritional value, or just something to brighten the walls of their home?
Yesterday, I happened to be on a treadmill doing one of those dreaded stress tests. The attendant was trying to make small talk to keep my mind off the fact that I was not having a great deal of fun and I hadn’t had any coffee for twenty-four hours. He asked me something about how I was enjoying summer. I mentioned that I write murder mysteries. I’ve quit trying to explain that I write cozy mysteries because most people don’t understand how a mystery can be cozy, and, when a writer has been deprived of caffeine for twenty-four hours, murder seems to fit. He perked up and his reaction helped my stress level.
The current mystery in progress (mip) is calling my name and my brain is befuddled with old houses, plantations, subterfuge, and secret motives. They are all swirling around somewhere within my head. I truly need another cup of coffee, but it’s obvious, I’ll have to travel to the kitchen and pour my own.
Books by Blanche Day Manos
You made me laugh outloud at your “murder seemed to fit!”
Praying for good stress test results!
Thanks Fran. I’m sure the test result will be fine. Really good to hear from you, as always.