Some of my favorite TV shows include The Waltons, Leave it to Beaver, and The Andy Griffith Show.

I am sure a psychologist probably would have a field day analyzing me through the types of TV shows that I like to watch.  Regardless of what determination a psychologist might make of my TV choices, I think the reason why I like these shows is because they all represent a simpler time for living.

There were no cell phones or voice mails, no internet, no text messages, instant messages, or twitter messages.  Things seemed slower and simpler.  The biggest problems that people in these shows had were Aunt Bea’s pickles didn’t taste too good or John Boy couldn’t bring himself to shooting that turkey for dinner.

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Up until about a week or two ago, even though the sun is at its peak this time of year, it has been unusually cool in New England.  It’s already the beginning of August and we should have had at least one pretty good heat wave by now.  But not so far this year.  In fact, I don’t think we even had a day hit 90 degrees yet.

I’m not complaining.  We haven’t really had to use the air conditioning too much yet.  Besides, I just love sleeping with the windows open – especially when there’s a nice breeze blowing.  At night, with the windows open, we can hear all kinds of wildlife:  bullfrogs in the pond, crickets in the woods, and occasionally a coyote or two howling at the moon.

The days have been just beautiful.  After a wet spring, the skies have cleared and the sun has come out.  The wild turkeys have come back and are in the yard looking for a handout.  Baby rabbits and baby deer run around chasing each other or, more often, chasing nothing at all. 

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