MORNING HAS BROKEN

I woke up to a cold house this morning.  What a glorious feeling!  The air outside is crisp and clear, having been washed by a good downpour yesterday.  Even the birds sensed the renewal and they chirped happily. Somewhere in the back of my mind Cat Stevens crooned 'Morning Has Broken' followed by Johnny Nash's 'I Can See Clearly Now'. 

I almost waltzed as I made the coffee.  Almost faster than the speed of thought it was ready, filling the air with its tantelizing aroma.  I poured a cup and sipped with my eyes closed, enjoying the moment.  The taste of rich coffee sweetened by a tincture of hazelnut transported me to the peaceful meadows of Calgonia where butterflies fluttered past in a warm, gentle breeze.

"Mom, I said whats for lunch?"

Johnny Nash screeched to a halt like a needle dragging across a record and my eyes flew open.  My daughter stared up at me, still chomping on a heat-n-serve pancake, her hair a tangled mess, her feet still bare.  Behind her the dining table still bore evidence of last night's supper, now joined by breakfast dishes and forgotten school books.

I blinked twice and twitched my nose.  Dang, it worked for Samantha on Bewitched... why not me?  With a heavy sigh as reality washed away the last wisp of inspiration, I trudged down the hall to gather the loose coins I had scrounged up for lunch money... watching carefully not to step on the runaway snake.