The forest seems quiet, until you really stop and listen. The hum of insects, the chits and warbles of birds, and the scampering of small mammals in the undergrowth all coalesce into a sustained ambiance.
There are few insects today. The sky is cloudy, but the sun feels warm. The occasional breeze causes the trees to shiver and rustle like an ocean of green. I sit in a rocking chair, thinking and reading, and thinking some more. A stray raindrop or two hit my skin. The clouds, heavy with moisture, are moving on, and it will not truly rain today.
I like it out here. There is nothing I must do, not even anything I should do. I rarely feel that I have enough time for anything, but today I have time enough for everything.
Soon the weather will turn cooler, but for now I relish the last weeks of summer. I am thankful for this time when the air is clear, the days are long, and vegetation is still green and growing. Here, in this place, in the middle of this majestic pine forest, I am happy.
~nullish
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