Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

The Pinecone | October 2026 • 9 • Steve Tittle TOPIC OF THEMONTH: Are you an Early Bird or a Night Owl? Poetry &Writing Club COME JOIN THE CLUB Monday, October 12th at 9:30 am in the Arts & Crafts Room Jean Saunders My early bird and my night owl are in conflict. I want to be an early bird. Morning is a fresh start, a quiet time before the daily grind begins. It resets the body clock and clears the mind. My work required me to rise and shine—well, rise anyway. I admit to sleeping in on Saturdays, tired from getting up early and staying up late. Saturday was a time to catch up without pressure to be anywhere. When I stopped working, I determined not to make a habit of sleeping late. I would be an early bird and put that night owl to bed. I planned new things to do, places to be, friends to make—reasons to rise and shine. The first morning was cool enough for an early morning walk. I had just rounded the deck end of the lake when the sprinkler system came on. There was no escape. This early bird was soaked! I set my shoes on the patio to dry. Thwarted by extreme heat, I continued indoors. I’ve pushed the snooze alarm a time or two, tempted to take my walk later in the day. It takes discipline to complete 20 minutes instead of going back for a cup of coffee and the Today Show. Somewhere inside me, that night owl is stalking my early bird. Owls ARE predators, after all. I must change my habit of staying up late. The Bookbaggers selection is a good one, hard to put down. I stop long enough for dinner, but I hurry back to read more. It’s bedtime, but I read just one more chapter, and then another. Before I know it, it’s midnight. It will be hard not to push the snooze alarm in the morning. I promise. I’ll go to bed early tomorrow. Hoot, Hoot. The promise to myself is kept. I’m in bed early. I’ll just watch the evening news to see about tomorrow’s weather. Will it be cool enough to walk outside again? I’ve planned a different route to avoid the sprinklers. I’ll just catch Jimmy’s monologue while my cat does his instinctive kneading on my arm. Hmmm. Paul McCartney is Jimmy’s guest tonight. He’s going to sing. My night owl hoots as I push the snooze alarm. I simply MUST get to bed early tonight. I take my indoor walk and participate in the exercise class. I get my dance on in line dancing. If I work hard, I’ll be tired enough to go to bed early. An old movie will help me relax before bedtime. The 7 o’clock movie is Gene Tierney in “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.” I’ve seen it a dozen times, but it’s a good one. Wait, I’m in trouble. At 9 it’sTierney in “Leave Her to Heaven”—the movie that earned her nomination for Best Actress, her only Academy Award nomination. I’ve never seen it. It lasts until 11. OK. I’ll get to bed early tomorrow night. That owl is laughing. So, I’m an early bird “wanna be.” Who wants to eat a worm anyway? EARLY BIRD OR NIGHT OWL Story by Jean Saunders