Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I'm awash in groceries for going to the cabin this weekend. We had to get rid of everything in the refrigerator up there because a tree limb knocked down the power lines for who knows how long. So staples like ketchup and mustard need replacing. And then there are always the surprises, like no dish soap and being out of olive oil. We could go to the store this year, unlike last summer, in a pinch. But it's more of a store for campers and drinkers, if you get my drift. We are all looking forward to the mountain air, and the cool lake and just sitting on the deck staring at the trees. Our friends will be up at the cabin next door, and it's a long tradition with us now, maybe 30 years. Our kids have grown up, married and have kids. They want their kids to experience the lake and the quiet and spectacle of the stars at night. Then there is the occasional excitement of seeing a bobcat, coyote, or raccoon. We've seen a bear only once, and deer only on the ski area road. But the birds are amazing, from six kinds of hummingbirds, mountain bluebirds, juncos, ravens, several kinds of woodpeckers, tanagers, and scrub jays. There are tree frogs dropping from above, and gray squirrels and lizards and snakes. It's a hive of quiet activity. I can't wait to get up there!