Month: March 2019

1, 2 Buckle My Shoe

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I’m a counter. Not your kitchen counter and not the counter where you order lunch. I’m not even talking about the alternative culture. Not really sure I want to be The Count from Sesame Street but I do count. Pure and simple, I count things. 

I’m not sure when I came to this realization. I’m usually late to the game when it comes to being self-aware. It was probably 10 years ago when I recognized that every morning, I do a step-ball change (a dance step where a person does a quick change of weight from the ball of one foot to the other) after shaving a leg. I know, I’m strange.

That just goes to show you that I am not super knowledgeable about what I do or what goes on around me.

So counting….

Did it start as a child? We learn our counting nursery rhymes. That combines counting and rhythm. I do love music but I don’t count with any musicality; I just count. 

As kids, we choose who goes first by counting “1 Potato, 2 Potato”. We even include counting in our jump-rope songs. Counting seems to pervade all aspects of our childhood.

That has to play a role in my fixation. Do genetics play a part? I recently found out that my mom loves to count things too. And I have a niece who counts. I really should ask my kids if they do this….

And why do I count? That’s another great question. There are multiple reasons. 

For instance, when I’m bored, I count to pass the time.

(How many black tiles are on the floor?)

And I count stairs so I don’t trip when I’m carrying laundry or when it’s dark. 

(There are 8, a landing and then 7 in my house, in case you’re wondering.)

I count to take the measure of how many people are out early in the morning with me. 

(I can usually count 20+ cars entering and exiting my neighborhood. On days with more, I wonder if there is a school activity or is it vacation time? If I feel really adventurous, I may count in Italian.)

For you, the reader, it is just another quirk to add to my many. I think it increases my appeal. maybe you’ll decide to stop reading. Or you may continue to see what else comes out of my mouth! Either way it’s a win-win for me; I can count my readership numbers.

Early Morning Devotional

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Spring has sprung, it’s true. But what isn’t true is that the mornings are any lighter. It feels like a really long winter. Especially when you have to walk the dog BEFORE work. And that translates to 5:30 in the morning. Let me repeat that-5:30 AM! 

Dragging myself out of bed is always difficult. I have never been a morning person. Heck, I even taught my oldest daughter to not wake Mommy up until the clock said 7-0-0. But with this job, I have to open the clinic up and that means that in order to get there to do so, I have to wake up at 5:00 so Remy and I can have our breakfasts before we walk.

Needless to say, the winter mornings are dreary. The cold is bitter and the wind cuts through everything. And with the onset of spring, the mornings aren’t as cold but they are still dark. 

Initially, I hated these walks.

All the reasons I stated above came into play. But then one morning, after we had moved to our new neighborhood, I started appreciating those times.

I noticed that there were plenty of lights on in the houses and townhomes dotting our enclave. It made me feel less alone to see others up and moving. There were cars exiting our neighborhood to go to work-another positive affirmation.


And at some point, I also spotted the shadows on the ground. They were so beautiful in their simplicity. Yin and yang in harmony.


That’s when I took the time to relish the quiet of the early morning hours. I pass a few dog walkers but for the most part it’s just me, Remy and the morning sounds. I still hate getting out of bed but at least I am grateful for what I am given each morning. It gives me a chance to reflect on my day and value what I have. Try it someday. The peace is welcome.