"I watched her glide along the gallery..." ~ Jane Eyre

*the mini-vacation continues...*

I could sit here all day.

I probably shall.

I feel like a summer cliche; its wonderful.

There is a covered glider in my yard, with room enough for two. I glide back and forth , feeling cool in the shade as a breeze sweeps across the yard. I am sipping raspberry lemonade in a large glass with huge pieces of ice. Jonathan Schwartz is on NPR and jazz vocalists are singing about the sadness of a Sunday morning.

I can relate to those songs.

There are black-eyed susans everywhere in the yard. These flowers are special not only because they are pretty, but because they are a precursor to next month's arrival of sunflowers.

Not a cloud is in the sky today, and although I contemplated going back to the beach, I am much happier spending the day in my backyard retreat, meditating and unwinding. The New York Times is sprawled out on the white patio table. For a few hours, the front pages are placed beneath all of the other sections; they are ever-present, but for a few hours I push them to the back of my thoughts. Instead, the Travel section is opened to a feature on San Sebastian.

On occasion I slip back into my apartment to check messages, plan out dinner for the evening, refill my lemonade, and splash my face with cold water.

Sinatra finally comes on the airwaves to croon to me. One for my baby. I place my head back and close my eyes. If I was told I had to choose one voice to listen to for the rest of my life, it would be Frank's.

Schwartz than plays a set of differing versions of Taking a Chance on Love. I begin to think about how nice it would be having someone sit next to me right now on this glider, opening up a bottle of Pindar Summer Blush and sipping away an afternoon in sweet silence. A wave of sorrow comes in with the light breezes.

I then recall the true reason why I am out here. It is to give myself a beautiful day; just myself. I am retreating and relaxing because I am exhausted from all aspects of relationships and dating over the past few years. Wrung out of late, I have just begun to feel rejuvenated today and refreshed, taking a well-deserved break. No chance taking right now; I prefer the security within myself. The sorrow glides away as quickly as it glided in.

So, I then slide right smack into the middle of the glider, taking up all of the room for myself and leaving none for anyone else. A big smile is on my face.

I could sit here all day.

I probably shall.