Nature and the animals are wonderful.

 After the car wreck my wife and I spent over a week in Tennessee with my son and his family. We have been back home for over a week.  

Since being back at home the only times I have been going outside is when I feed the animals and birds. Then I have just been taking them food and coming right back in. That is not counting making trips. We have visited my aunt in the nursing home. We made several trips to Jackson and Pearl for various reasons.

I guess it is mostly mental. I’ve worried some about my wife’s injuries. We had to decide on buying a car. We have wondered what the insurance company would do. For some reason I just have not been my old self. There is nothing particularly wrong and I have not felt bad. I just have not been me.

This afternoon my wife wanted some collard greens and green onions from our vegetable beds and I told her I would go get them. When I went out I stopped and looked around and relaxed for a few minutes.

The first thing that happened when I went out was some of the cats came running up to be petted. My first thought was I had been neglecting them. They had just been in the way and underfoot when I went outside. All they wanted was a little love. I sat on the steps and petted cats for a while. They rubbed against me and when I was not petting one it would put it’s head under my hand to be petted. I guess it was knowing that I was giving pleasure to them that made me feel better. That and knowing that they loved me.

It was just a little cool. I had on a sweat shirt and sweat pants and the coolness felt good. The air was fresh and invigorating. Just looking around at the yard and trees was pleasing. Sure the yard needs picking up and raking, but I need the exercise. Many of the shrubs and trees need pruning, but I have always enjoyed pruning them.

The dogs were raising cain. They wanted some attention. I had kept them fed and watered, but had not been giving them the love and attention that they deserved. I made up for some of the neglect. They were so happy that it cheered me up more.

I went back into the house in a better mood by far than when I went out. In fact I felt better than I had in a long time. I realized again, what I have known for a long time; nature is wonderful. It can be a great healer.