REFER TO GREY: Contemplations by Robert Greigos © 2007-2024

Not having traveled the world, I can't say whether front porch sitting is a universal human endeavor, but it is certainly an historically common practice in many parts of the U.S., and for good reason.

At a time of leisure, when the heat's gotten to be too much, when the task at hand has nearly drained you, when confusion reigns and it's time to take a step back, when a setback has you stymied, when what's next requires measuring and the gathering of resources, when a friend drops by with news to share, when there's pleasure to be had watching your children play, when it's fascinating, curious, and irksome to sit by and watch what everyone else including Mother Nature is up to, a comfortable seat on a porch can't be beat.

A verse in the collected works attributed to the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu comments that a patient man, from his humble place by the river, might see the entire world pass before him. While not every side street or country road offers the worldly traffic of the Yellow or Yangtze rivers, what does pass is often worlds apart and beyond one's own limited vision. The chance to grow, the chance to escape the convoluted circles of one's own thoughts is an irresistible pleasure offered to anyone taking the time to sit down and partake.

May your summer be blessed with at least a few places to sit back and enjoy the fascinating world you inhabit.