Catalog Benefits

There is one huge advantage from receiving catalogs from every (or almost every) vendor in the United States. 

On relatively nice days, I have made it a practice sit on my porch swing to sort through my mail. The catalogs and bills arrive sometime between 3 and 6 p.m. depending on postal personnel rotation. 

Catalogs not only help keep the U.S. postal system in business and its carriers employed, they also give me an excuse to linger longer in/on my swing. 

At that time of day most everything slows down. Until you look up. Sit still and notice the hundreds of insects, mostly tiny, helicopter-ing in the air. For the most part, they do not harm or otherwise bother our species. Indeed, some (probably most, I’m not an entomologist) enhance our lives either by pollinating fruits and flowers or adding beauty to our lives. 

All we have to do is notice them. 

Before I trimmed back my spirea shrubs, I watched chubby bumble bees roll over their blossoms, probably delighting in their pollen. 

Recently, small beautiful butterflies – ‘painted ladies’ I think --settle on remaining flowers. 

There’s always something wondrous. Migrating birds of various dimensions skimming the sky. Not my smart phone.  

Just look.