I once was a “very busy person” who didn’t have time for birds. That would include not time for feeding, nor birding, or even taking time to attend to bird songs. Some days I just wouldn’t pay them – birds – any notice.

My wife, on the other hand, IS Mother Nature – having time for the vegetable gardens, the flower gardens, the trees, shrubs, lawn, bushes . . and birds. Bird feeders. Platform bird feeders. Pole bird feeders. Hanging bird feeders. Ground feeding birds . . and . . did I mention we have wild turkeys to feed that visit our abundant backyard? (Topic for another time.)

So now I’m evolving, some might say, to a more natural way of living by finding time for the birds. I built a platform bird feeder. I built a birdhouse. I mounted several bird houses. I even put out seed.

Heck, I even went on an official birding tour or hike or adventure. Sure, I didn’t risk life or limb, so as adventures go it was rather tame. But it was peaceful, enjoyable, educational, enlightening and, I hesitate to say (admit?), deepened my appreciate for birds, birdsong, birders and the birds themselves.

So, yes, to those for whom there is no time for nature I say slow down and listen tomorrow morning.

Do birds sing to you in the morning? Is there a nicer sound to starting the day.

Yes, leisure is for the birds.

We dined on the brick patio this evening, taking advantage of a perfect Spring day of blue skies, 75 degrees, no mosquitoes, a slight breeze.

The lettuce in the salad came from our garden. Now, mid-May, is the perfect time for harvesting lettuce. That assumes the neighborhood rabbits leave some for the gardener, and they do.

It’s interesting how the birds adapt to our presence, after we’ve been sitting eating and chatting for a few minutes. Ordinarily our human presence would make them a bit jumpy, but when we’re sitting and speaking in low voices it’s almost as if we’re one of the flock of wrens, blue-jays, sparrows, doves, grackles, cardinals, chickadees and other birds that visit our feeders and our driveway where we spread seed.

These evenings, when we slow down a bit to enjoy the evening air, the blue skies, the flowers that are blooming and the birds that join us for dinner seem to pass without concern for time or projects that await us.

Even our children slow down when they join us. No one eager to be the first to rise from their chair to call an end to the timeless moments that these outdoor evening meals are.

“Leisure”.

An evocative little word, isn’t it?

Traveling, golf, fishing, gardening . .

Leisure: Is it selfish, self-indulgent?

Or is it – leisure – earned? A return on investment? A gift, given to one’s self, in recognition of years worked, endles bills paid, countless commitments filled, opportunities taken and opportunities passed?

I’d like to find out what leisure is and isn’t.

I’m willing to find out.

I am willing to commit to finding out.

I am commited to finding out, to answering the important questions related to leisure.

Tomorrow. Maybe.