I’m Being Changed By My New Environment

Mostly good things. But one “mixed blessing” that surprises me is the sunrises.

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been awake for sunrise in the last forty years. Which is weird. When I was a kid I was always up early, mainly because as the oldest of eight kids it was one of the only times I had alone, when I could read without being bothered. Then there were years of morning paper routes, then some time at Annapolis, then working graveyard shift to get through college along with 8:00 AM classes.

Somewhere in the intervening 45 years after college, I decided that being up before the crack of nine is less than optimal. I almost never am in bed before 1:00 AM, but unless I have to be up to remain employed or get on a plane, getting up by sunrise is NOT on the menu.

Then we moved here, with big plantation shutters and a lovely view to the east and some spectacular desert sunrises, and I’m finding myself  waking up to check out the sunrises. (Okay, I’m getting up to pee at 5:45, but I still look outside and see the sunrise.) Who knew? Granted, once the pretty colors go away I go back to sleep until 8:00 or so, but there’s definitely been a shift in my circadian rhythms.

This morning was stunning!