Sally Gerard

The coffee perks at 4:38AM. Why 4:38? Because it makes me feel like I’m sleeping in when I don’t have to set it at 4:30. The strong, hot smell reminds me why I want to get up—the running clothes stare back at me and I put them on even though on this day I’d rather take the steaming mug back to bed instead. Once my new running shoes are on and I leave the mug empty and alone,  out on the deck the stars are before me and I know it’s going to be a good run even as they fade into sunrise. My feet have gotten the message and have stopped trying to drag me back and instead find lift and more speed going down the road with the pleasure of new shoes! I ride along with them, music playing through my headphones and look forward to filling that mug again when we return. The smell of heavy dew from the night surrounds me, making me slow to check one of the rain gauges on my route-it’s empty. But the promise of moisture is with me. The heifers gaze over the pasture fence, wondering what in the world I’m doing. No skunk today as I left a bit later and by the time I get to my skunk spot, she has already crossed the road and gone back into her den missing the brilliant pinks and oranges of the sunrise. She may have peeked out after I passed. The wind pick up as I come back up the last quarter mile. Opening the door, the hot coffee welcomes me home.

I know it is actually the 28th of May, but my finals schedule at school is messing with my routine! I have to give a final first thing in the morning when I’m usually writing my blog, posting on my Facebook author site, and taking care of my online job, oh, and writing! So, I’m pre-posting this tonight for all of you. Kind of me, I know.

Checking the windmill and water tanks tonight found all the heifers and the two bulls gathered after the hot afternoon and drinking the cool water. The wind was up so the big blades were spinning the water up out of the earth and into the tanks. Cattle are odd. The first tank with the freshest, coolest water was full and the third overflow tank was where all the heifers were taking turns drinking. Cattle are odd. As I sat there watching to be sure water was indeed pumping out of the lead pipe and talking to my son on the phone, the heifers began to line up along the electric wire and stare at me. It was as if they were wondering why I’d called them all to this meeting and why was I getting started with the get-to-know-you’s or the sharing of news or announcements that begin all meetings. And as I pulled away, their heads all turned in unison, watching me leave without having given them any direction or job-well-done or get to work. By the time I got back to the perimeter gate, they’d all gone back to grazing and I heard the unison cry of “Whatever.”