what my senses tell me

here's a picture of a japanese dog, in a japanese fountain on a hot day in japan. he jumps, splashes, and barks as his owner throws water on him. he drinks some of the water. he follows the small creek downstream perhaps twenty feet, going under a small tunnel. he goes back again. can you imagine living life with such unabashed happiness? can you remember the last time you felt how the water hits your face, how your feet feel in the puddles?

tonight as i drove home from dinner with friends i had my music turned up and the windows open. i passed a field that had recently been mowed for haying. the sweet smell of the grass floated into the car and, i swear, i felt it fill my lungs as i took a deep breath between words of the song. i continued on, crossing the brandywine, and smelled the familiar air of the river, a scent that means home to me - i've never smelled the same thing anywhere else. as the song changed and i came to a stop sign near the field where the bulls live, the crickets filled my ears and reminded me tomorrow is the first day of september. now there is a wind chime blowing as the fan moves air around my apartment. the crickets are still talking outside. my eyelids are heavy but it has been a nice night, tasting good food, laughing a bit, and feeling so at home here.