Today I was standing on a street corner in downtown Sylacauga looking back toward the north and trying to see my little world through the eyes of a writer. I think that after seeing that part of the world day after day for my life, I tend to ignore the details and keep in my mind an image of what I think that world looks like. I don't glorify the images. I tend to see the ugly if you want to know the truth. I see the garbage on the streets. The stains on the buildings and the stunted, brown dying vegetation that grows in vacant lots. I see trees that once were the glory of our town that have reached the limits of time and will soon die out. But that isn't fair to all that is there. It is just my discriminating eye that picks out the worst. I was trying today to see the town "for what it is". I am trying to live in the moment. To some degree I succeeded. I had another moment like that as I rode home on the scooter last night. The streets of town were deserted. At the intersection of Norton and Fort Williams, an armadillo was trundling down the road. Since there was only one mini-van on the streets at the time, he was able to cross the road and make his way to who knows where. But is was interesting to find the little devil there in the middle of town. I hope I can practice this exercise again tonight. Bev and I have our anniversary today. We both had to work. But I have some champagne at the house and we will toast our 26th year of marriage tonight. Then we will get some much appreciated sleep.