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An inspiring piece, James! As a teacher, the months of July and August allow everything to slow down for me (well, mostly). I find that I’m more in-tune with the world around me, pay more attention to the birds at the feeder, the clouds of an incoming storm. I read and write more.

Thank you for this great read. I really enjoyed it and connected with it.

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Justin, thank you very much! I know you're busy, having youngsters around, and teaching is no picnic. Hard to find breathing room sometimes. You still have plenty of time to slow down before school starts. : )

I'm back from a long weekend away, will catch up on my reads. Thank you, again, I'm encouraged.

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Awesome post James. Really one of your best. I can relate to always having to be doing something but lately, like you, I have my moments where I steal a little time to watch what goes on around me. I too am a bit of an aviation buff and love to identify the planes that depart RSW near my home. I have a flight tracker app that tells the flight number, destination, etc.

Bird/wildlife around here: Osprey, Hawks of all types, Vultures, Mockingbirds, Doves. Recently spotted Swallow tailed kites that were only here for a few days, Sand Hill cranes, Ibis and Bald eagle.

Of course gators and Green Iguanas are a dime a dozen. Occasionally, dolphins will chase fish into our canal and they create such turmoil that you can hear the water splashing from inside the house. Such Joyful creatures.

Who said getting older was bad? Look what we were always too busy to see.

Absolutely great piece brother. Inspirational!

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Hi Jim! Thank you so much! I probably like the plane spotting more than I admit. I really miss the bird life and being near the water as I was in southwest Louisiana. I would like to get back there one day. You have more of a variety of both than I do, I'm envious. I hear the Iguanas have become a problem in Florida.

I'm catching up on my reads as I was gone for the weekend. Found a little gold detecting - will have to get back there, now that we know the lay of the land. Nor Cal, outside of Redding.

I very much appreciate your comments, Jim. Thank you, again.

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"There was so much I wanted to do. I would have to be old to want to do nothing. Now, here I am, hanging out in the backyard, and liking it. A lot." Plane spotting, bird-watching, day-dreaming. It is not nothing! And it is what you have earned, don't you think? @Terry Freedman said today that his TO-DO list was a work of fiction. That struck me as just right, James. As did your suggestion of keeping the front yard well-manicured, but the backyard is your wild place. I loved both those suggestions and I loved this post.

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Hi Sharron. Yes, I know it is not nothing, but I'm not sure if it is earned - I misspent a number of my years. : ) I'm back from a long weekend away, I'll be getting to your posts as I catch up. Thank you for writing!!

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Misspent! Intriguing word. I imagine there is a story to be told there.... someday.

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