the front of our home has a porch that extends the full length of the house. when we first set eyes on the house it was not something that either marty or i noticed or commented on, like "hey ... cool porch." after moving in and through to this day, the porch has proven to be one of the best amenities of the house and where we've spent countless hours. in fact, we've spent so much time sitting, reading, and eating out there that some people in our neighborhood call us the porch family or me the porch guy. when you think about it, hanging something off the full front of a house, without it not only seeming overwhelming but even unnoticeable is not trivial. and then for that same object to be of immense functional value to boot is doubly impressive.

on the far end of this porch after four upright chairs and two small tables that rest in between for drinks and food and papers, is a lounge chair that's like what you'd find at a pool or the beach. it is styled like the other chairs but has a foot rest and can fully recline. this spot in this untrodden and unnoticed dead-end of our porch is my favorite napping spot on a late blue-sky afternoon. book on my chest and breeze tunneling through the space i gaze up through the trees and watch the branches sway and morphing clouds tumble over. in short time i will close my eyes and on a quiet day hear nothing but the fluttering leaves and chittering birds. there hasn't been a time i've drifted on in this hidden space that i don't think my life is rich beyond my most hopeful or ambitious expectations. and there isn't a more reliable physical space available to me that can open the floodgates of gratitude wider than this spot. nature's magic.