Her Name is Eden

For those of you that don’t live in The South, the way a Minnesotan feels at the end of Winter, when the thermometer reaches a high of 60, is the same jubilation we feel down here once the mercury stops rising above 90 degrees. That happened about two weeks ago and Carrie and I immediately moved supper outside. Our evening meal will remain outside until Winter causes our retreat in about two months. It is an experience I highly recommend for anyone living on the Gulf Coast.

This is the time of year that people in the Northeast start shutting down life on patios. For us, however, this is the time that we awaken from the lethargic slumber of our air-conditioned cocoons. We’ve been hiding from the heat for months and this is the time to celebrate The Beginning of the Long Ending of Summer.

Grab a backpack and go hiking. Head to Girard Park for Festivals Acadiens. Or, just grab a plate and a blanket and join me in celebrating the simple pleasure of eating outside. There is something deeply calming to me about eating in nature. Every bite is savored just a little longer. Every laugh of my boys has more resonance. Every breath of wind on the back of my neck is a gift from God, reminding me that, as with all withering things in life, this oppressive season does have an end.

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