Hello, World. Waking Up to the Beauty of Toast, and Toasting Buttered Bread & Jam For Its Open Arms, Simplicity, & Grace

I am usually a Raisin Bran kind-of guy. It's ritualistic, healthy, and great sustenance. Raisin Bran and coffee. Every once and a while, usually for others, I will make a bigger breakfast. I'll occasionally do a bagel and when the mood strikes me, I'll make toast.

No, I don't do mornings well. But I can do toast.

Today, I made toast. I have so much jam-packed in the next 14-hours (nice pun there, Crandall...you didn't even mean it), and several deadlines tomorrow. This, and national ZOOM calls, too, to plot out potential projects for 2022, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.. I should have known that Glamis the Wonder Dog would have me up at 5 a.m. this morning, after I gave into her whining. I got up, so she could take over the bed.  I came downstairs to make toast.

Of course, then Glamis the Wonder Dog jumped out of the bed so she could sit at my side whining that she wants a piece. I blame my mom for this. Every dog that's ever been in her house has received corners of her toast. It is the morning ritual. When I return to my own home, they expect the same treatment. I share a morning mood of misery with my mother, but I do not share the toast-sharing routine.

Now, Raisin Bran, eggs, waffles, and pancakes aren't worth getting up for. Glamis the Wonder Dog, however, leaps to her four paws when she hears a toaster oven beep. She distinguishes that beep from the coffee pot beep, the microwave beep, and the refrigerator beep, because they never seem to arouse her. It's the toaster beep that perks her ears....and tongue...and drool.

I'm not my mom, though, and Glamis only gets table scraps occasionally. I tell her, "You don't see me staring at you and whimpering while you eat your Purina, do you?"

Anyway, I'm eating toast and tapping my inner hope that today will be okay. I spread butter and elderberry jam across its crisp layers. There wasn't a sunrise to join us, just gray, gray clouds. Still, I'm holding the last piece to my mouth and saying, "Hello, Day. Let's get this thing going,"

And I'm off.

The candle is still lit, although it is barely flickering. I refuse to let it die out completely. Toast, and this morning writing ritual for another year of blogging, is my reminder to always look to the light...always look to the joy...always keep the integrity.