LIFE WITHOUT A CLOCK

I've gotten to the point in life where clocks and watches are unnecessary. There are "happenings" or sounds all around that give me a pretty good idea of what time it is without looking at the clock.

2:30 a.m. I can hear Amtrack blowing through Cowtown headed north to Seattle.

3:30 a.m. The whistle of the south bound Amtrack for L.A. tells me to stop listening for passing trains and go back to sleep.

4:30 a.m. The WSJ and the Sacramento Bee hits the driveway pavement. The carriers noisy foreign car past its prime chugs up and down the street.

6:00 a.m. The Cowtown news is delivered by a guy driving a Ford Ranger. There's something about the sound of an American truck that puts me to sleep.

6:30 a.m. Zeenie, who is crated every night, starts to make sounds that she needs to get up. The sounds she makes are interesting ones to get my attention. She starts a low pitched growl that goes up several octaves . . . almost like she's talking or communicating. Well, I guess she is . . . the girl has to take a leak and wants out of her crate.

7:35 a.m. Mommies pass by the house with kids loaded into mommy vans on the way to the school bus stop a block down the street.

8:00 a.m. The whistle on the iron and metal factory in town sounds.

8:30 a.m. The school bus of a neighboring district passes by the house on its way to pick up kids around the corner.

Noon: The dogs let me know that it's time for their lunch.

2:15 p.m. Wifey walks to the bus stop to pick up Grace.

3:15 p.m. Grace has finished her homework and heads out the door to play with the dogs.

4:00 p.m. The neighboring school district school bus passes by with kids on their way home.

4:30 p.m. Grace comes to me and says, "Isn't it time to watch Tom and Jerry?" And we do.

5:30 p.m. Grace's mom picks her up.

6:00 p.m. The dog start pacing and looking hungry. They know that it's time for their dinner. I know that's time for my dinner, too. We all eat together (but not at the same table).

8:00 p.m. Zeenie gets that look in her eye that she wants to play ball before bed. We wrestle. I toss the ball. Zeen brings it back. I hide the ball. She finds it. It's a nightly ritual.

8:30 p.m. I'm starting to wonder why the hell I spent half the night listening for trains so I'd know what time it was. How stupid is that? I usually promise myself that I'll never do that again but end up listening for the trains anyway. Yes, that's stupid.

10:30 p.m. The next door neighbor puts their dog out for one last time before they hit the sack.

I always know what time it is without looking at a clock. So who needs a clock anyway? I am living without watching time and loving it.

Know what I need? A good night's sleep and to rid myself of the habit of telling time by sounds and events.