Ringside Seat

The full moon rising was tinted by smoke from the Rim fire down by Yosemite.  Like a picture, the moon was accented by pines on the hill and framed by the living room window.  My chair is positioned so that I can see a portion of the deck and watch lizards dart, tiny frogs hop, and the occasional squirrel come creepy-creeping along.  A variety of birds land on the railing, even the turkeys that one year (peeping Toms).  Hummers are always looking in the window to remind me to fill their feeders.  One pine and one oak are just outside and give an indication of which way the wind blows.  Green leaves on the oak will soon turn color and then drop, leaving bare branches to silhouette in winter.  That same window becomes magical when snow falls and I sit watching, snug by the wood stove.  The front door is never closed all summer long.  From my chair, I see deer as I did the other day, a continuing parade of turkeys, and young ground squirrels playing in the driveway.  I can watch sunrise and see sunset from the same vantage point.  The scenery changes with the season, the players come in on cue, and I have the best seat in the house for the best show on earth.