I’ve taken an unexpected break from writing these past few weeks – perhaps the summer heat is slowing my brain – but I’ll be back soon. For now, here’s a story:
Greetings! Hope the weather is fine where you are! Over here, it’s like this:
The other morning, as my coffee brewed, I looked out in the backyard and saw a small shape floating in the pool. Just as I thought, darn, another drowned mouse I’ll have to skim out – the very much not-drowned shape kicked and dove, paddling to the bottom of the pool. It took a second for my caffeine-less brain to register that, no, a mouse would not swim like that.
A desert toad, enjoying a dip. He rested at the bottom for a little while, his belly pressed flat against the pebble finish. Just hanging out underwater in the peaceful quiet.
My son sometimes uses the pool this way – he is somehow able to lay face down on the bottom of the pool; or he sits up cross-legged, his closed eyes behind his goggles showing a serenity we rarely see on dry land. The pressure of the water relieves some of the pressures of the outside world.
I watched Mr. Toad swim for a bit before scooping him up in the skimmer net to set him down by the gate. This pool can be a good place of respite for us – but sorry, toad, you’ll have to find another watering hole.
That’s the view from here - more soon!
