It Became A Lazy Afternoon

This afternoon it was 30 degrees out there, with a piercing breeze. Drivers were unruly, aggressive, rushing. The line at the gas pump was slow. I returned home, shivering, to a greeting from my wife. “It’s a lazy afternoon,” she said.

Suddenly, the afternoon became lazy, with a long lunch, a leisurely hour conquering two crossword puzzles and inspiration to look up Shirley Horn. There she was, waiting to reinforce my new mood, which could not be derailed by the irrelevant out-of-focus album covers posted by a YouTube contributor with her video. Close your eyes. Enjoy a perfect interpretation of a beautiful song. Ms. Horn accompanies herself on the piano. Buster Williams is the bassist, Billy Hart the drummer.