Morning

I woke up this morning disappointed to be awake. It's the first Tuesday of "fall back an hour" and my internal clock woke me an hour early. Awake, I twisted and turned, trying to cash in on my "bonus" hour of sleep. For a stray moment here, and a stolen moment there, I slipped back into the unsatisfactory sleep of a grown-up with things to do. Then my back began to hurt. The covers bunched into an uncomfortable knot. And the sounds of morning crept in--Big Guy in the shower; animal toenails clicking down the hall; Birdie drying her hair. I awoke more fully and realized: This day, like every day, is worth the waking up for. That, and I could smell the coffee.