Take Me Back to Counting Palm Trees

I wake up to a dark hour at the crack of dawn. As you would expect in a treehouse, it smells like musty wood. The windows in the treehouse let in some of the rainfall overnight. I am not irritated, after all, this isn’t my treehouse. I can tell it was raining more so because the sound of the chirping birds are not as blaring.

I, unlike many people, believe birds sound a bit shrieky for my taste. Beautiful creatures they are, beautiful-sounding creatures they are not. In fact, bird sounds serve me as a practical alarm. I wake up as soon as they begin. I turn around in my bed to find my husband sound asleep. I am not surprised. He describes birds sounding like a calm lullaby. He even says that birds “sing”. What nonsense. It’s too cold for the Caribbean, I think to myself. I can begin to see the sunrise, so I go to the mini-kitchen to make some coffee. I would like to have my coffee outside the treehouse to enjoy the grand view. I tell myself to wait a little bit, as my instincts advise. I set the coffee on the table so it can cool off a bit while I fold some of my clothes. Today is the last of our 3-day holiday. I get eager as soon as the sun starts to show, and as the light starts to penetrate the many imperfections of the treehouse. I take my mug of coffee and open the sliding glass door. It is warmer outside than inside. It looks like the Sun has begun its altruistic role. As I step outside, I can hear about 2 or 3 roosters crowing. I can also hear chickens. These types of birds, in my opinion, sound more pleasant. I look to my left to admire the eastern Caribbean Sea so vast, calm and mighty it is. I count the high palm trees. 1,2,3 and 4. In front of me at a distance, there is a hill range so green and soft. At the hillside, I can see scattered little villas. I try counting them too. Bellow me, I can see bright pink Bougainville flowers. Together with the light green hills, the dark green palms, the bushes, and the light blue sea, I am in the presence of the most colorful, vibrant, and tranquil environment. I look again and again in an effort to burry and treasure this moment in my longest of memories. I then take a deep breath as my serenity bar rises.  

Take me back to counting palm trees.