#SOL20 Day 31 Almost Normal

Sitting outside on the front stoop with my last cup of coffee for the day. I close my eyes and feel the warmth of the sun shining down, although there’s a cool “last day of March breeze” that makes me happy I have a sweatshirt on. The kids across the street at my neighbor's in-home daycare scream and yell their enjoyment, finally able to be outside after a long winter of being entertained inside. The big wheels rumble on the cement, and I hear them calling her name for minor annoyances. In the distance, a chainsaw whirs, cleaning up winter debris and the strong winds of last weekend. Chloe does her low throated growl at some unseen threat to our quiet but soon settles back down to sunbathing in the yard. Every now and then, she whines a bit for the walk that has become our habit. A cardinal calls to his mate and the blackbird caws loudly, probably warning other birds of Chloe's presence. All the normal sounds of a normal spring morning. But we know