Homesick?

Outside the sun blares down with temperatures approaching 90ºF while inside the air conditioner roars away attempting to beat the heat like the post-industrial monster it is as I husk corn for my supper.  In my mind’s ear I hear a chorus of “My Old Kentucky Home” in the background. 

 

It is not late summer by any means but on the radio they’re advertising the ‘Ex’.  It’s been so dry despite the constant threat of thunderstorms or worse and the hot humid weather that the Great Lakes water levels are at historic lows.  Even at night the crickets sing lazily in the warm summer air and small critters disturb early fallen rustling leaves.  The air is hazy and the breeze barely disturbs the leaves on the maple outside my window. 

 

It’s the kind of day that makes one wish one could head for the old swimming hole.  Alas here in Oakville the lake smells so bad no one would want to go near it even if one dared swim in it.  I’m thinking of the Mailman fishing rock just below the water falls on the West LaHave River and how pleasant to be perched there with a line drifting in the foaming backwater.  Up on the Hirtle Hill the blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and huckleberries are ripe for the picking.   Or they would be if someone took the time to cut the brush that has grown up since the owners neglected the berry patch.  Alas, being the present owner I bear some of that responsibility. 

 

I dream of watching the light fade as the sky turns rosy red in the west and the first stars come out.  As the sky darkens the first night birds begin stirring.  The chimney swifts depart their colonial roust and start their coordinated flight while the nighthawks patrol among the trees.  As darkness falls the bats come out and in the distance a barred owl makes his call.  If the black flies don’t drive us in we’ll find a comfortable spot to lie back in an open field and watch for shooting stars as the Milky Way splashes across our Northern Sky.  As the night deepens the mist will start rising off the river and soon the fog bank will spread inland off the Atlantic.  Those pictures of sunsets over the water are fanciful as more oft than not it settles into a fog bank.  Just before the air becomes too cool to remain out without a coat on the fire flies will come out to light our way home.