Life is better on the porch

The Bumble Bee And The Hummingbird

Two species coming together

The death of summer is approaching. The birth of fall is gradually awakening. It is still very hot in the South during the daytime, but the early mornings are wonderfully pleasant in September.

I rise at dawn, pour a cup of steaming hot coffee, and sneak quietly to the porch. My happy place. I take my electronics so I can read, write, and check the news.

While sipping my cup of medium roast, I hear a soothing sound. It’s so quiet. You have to pay attention. The delicate twinkling of my wind chimes. So very subtle. I enjoy the moment and notice that it is feeding time for the birds. They gather at the feeder, wings fluttering, chirping and tweeting. By this time, my cats have discovered that I am also awake and on the porch. They come to join me, stretch their paws lazily, and yawn. They love being out there, too. Soon, they will discover the birds, and my cats will also start to chirp and tweet quietly.

I am at peace with the solitude of the early morning. I glance out at the yard to take in all the sounds and spy on the hummingbird feeder. I see a hummingbird and a bumble bee. They are both feasting on the sweet, sugary nectar. They haven’t noticed each other yet. I am the voyeur. I watch in total contentment. The tiny hummingbird dips its pointy beak in the feeder for nourishment, much the same as the bumble bee. They forage into each tiny portal of sweetness. They notice each other. Time stops as they both hover effortlessly over the feeder. They play a little game of tag. Each is not much bigger than the other. Just buzzing and looking for nourishment. As fast as they arrive, they are both gone. I wait a bit and pray they will return to entertain me for just a moment longer.

Morning has broken, and the stillness quietly drifts away. My solitude is interrupted by the morning rush hour of vehicles with people hurrying to get to their jobs or to get in line at the best establishment for coffee. The construction trucks are honking annoyingly. Airplanes zoom overhead. My blissful solitude disappears, and I count the moments till the next morning when the cats and I can watch the bumblebee and the hummingbird play their silly little game of tag.