insignificant...

...revelation just occurred here in front of my computer screen. I am sitting here eating my bowl of cheerios while typing, looking out the window. There is a line of vehicles visible through the bare trunks of deciduous trees, brake lights glowing, right turn signals blinking, as the drivers approach the stop sign on the corner. When I first sat down, all you could see was those eye-catching brilliant lights, as it was too dark to actually view the cars and trucks as they slowed heading toward the T-shaped intersection. But the sun has come up and it is light enough to see they are work/utility vehicles, big yellow school buses, SUVs, shiny pickups, sedans transporting people to work.

I can look out the window all day long: no work today. Observe nature, watch squirrels fall off the bird feeder, see birds winging to and fro, occupants of cars and trucks going about their business. It is such a small thing, but I do love to be in a place to see the sun come up and rays streaming through the trees, bright slices of sunshine gleaming off the floor, as the windows across the east side of the house catch the light. Sitting here as the sky gets brighter, tree trunks and limbs catch the early morning rays and light shines through.

Here in my pajamas and a jacket, occasionally shivering from the cold, thankful for electricity and all the modern conveniences that are a result of Ben Franklin and his key strung up on the kite. The central heat comes on, warms the house, and keeps it temperate weather there are people present to throw more logs on the fire or not. The lights are so dependable: just flip a switch. All the potable water you can use (or waste) on demand, an endless supply at your fingertips.

That surprising thought I had was that we used to have a big oversized desk, with a big oversized desk-top computer sitting in the kitchen. Back when there were teenagers in the house, and you heard frequent warnings/words to the wise about the dangers of kids having access to the internet without ample adult supervision. Funny, you don't hear that anymore, huh? They all have, from grade school on, mini-computers in the back pockets of their low-slung denims. That gigantic desk was jammed up in the corner, adjacent to french doors, where the cold  north wind blew, creeping in through the cracks. Us born in the south with thin blood do not tolerate cold weather well, and I wanted to get away from the glass doors and winter chill. The time finally came to move it all, and with young people out of the nest, it went into an empty bedroom.

Ha, ha, ha. Here I sit, with practically the same view, looking out a different window, on the north side of the house, wearing layers. Occasionally stopping to blow on my hands with stiff knuckles and chilled fingers to stay warm. Proof: What Goes Around Comes Around.

PS: I read somewhere recently that an effective way to punish teens is to take away the chargers. Do  not take the electronics for bad behavior: take the charger instead, so they cannot get  more juice.