Left overs from last night's rain drips heavily from the lush green foliage on the trees.
Birds sing in praise or defiance of the battle in the sky, squirrels dash through the yard carrying nuts to store for the coming occupation and yellow leaves slowly commit suicide.
While the majestic dance of nature is taking place, a blond woman walks her dog apparently unaware of the war surrounding her.
A bicycle carries our neighbor coasts to a stop in front of the yellow house across the street where Scott is dying. Ray stops by every day to check on things and seems to be on a mission darting quickly inside.
Goddess snores on the floor. Winston slumbers on the back of the sofa. Gypsy sits in the window sill watching the woman walk her dog.
Covering the fire pit on the Beloved Back Deck, I clean up the remnants from last night's roasting of S'mores in honor of Cassidy's birthday on a warm black night.
Cass was full from the huge dinner Sarah had cooked and stopped after one, while her sisters ate like only kids with incredible metabolism can and I even joined in for one.
A soft rain begins to fall and the girls rush inside to protect their electronics and Sarah and I are left alone for a moment.
Sitting before the fire, baptized in warm soft rain under a bright moon, words aren't necessary. We share the silence of the moment.
The rain intensifies and we join the girls inside.
Thick white smoke rises from the now smoldering fire wafting through the open windows inside with us.
It was a nice night.
Now Sarah's at work, the girls at school and I'm left alone to witness the battle in Heaven pulling for the Sun with everything inside.
"It's a good place to be," I say out loud, waking Goddess, perturbing Winston as Gypsy jumps from the window to walk under my dangling bare feet.
While the battle rages overhead, I count my blessings.
