Twelve Miles

It’s 7 AM and the mist is rising from dark green meadows and small ponds along the 12 mile route I drive to work each day. Bradford pears, tall pines, stately oaks, crepe myrtles, and scaly barked sycamores form a shady canopy over the narrow 2-lane road. Gold, brown, and red toned leaves have fallen into the shallow ditch alongside my route. It is officially Fall in Mississippi. The full Autumn moon is descending in my rear view mirror as today’s sunrise almost blinds me through the front windshield with its intensity. It’s going to be a hot one although the cool breeze I feel through the car’s air vents does not confirm the forecast on my radio. I take a sip of Mississippi grown coffee brewed by a locally owned franchise with the deceptive word “Seattle” as part of its corporate name. It is owned by a US born Chinese American and it is great coffee. I can say this with SOME authority as I have tasted coffee in two Central American countries, Starbucks and Seattle’s Best in several major American cities from east to west. I love coffee. But I digress. This is my favorite time of day, quiet, cool, picturesque. The speed limit is 35 mph but few drivers go that slowly. I take my time. I am not anxious to get to the office. Wonder if I will miss this drive when I finally retire?