The season begins

A squeaking sound roused me from a deep sleep this morning. I laid there listening. Sliding out of bed, I stepped silently to the living room trying not to wake Jilda. I stood for a long time, before deciding that what I heard was a remnant of a forgotten dream.

I laid back down and listened. Before falling asleep, I heard it again. Sliding on my slippers, I stepped to the front windows and peered out. The light of false dawn was seeping through the window from the east but I still could not hear the squeaking. Opening the door, I stood on the stoop. The wind aloft sounded like rushing water at times. I could hear the chimes on the side screen porch tinkling, but no sign of the squeaking.

Before closing the door, I heard the wind coming through the trees and then I heard the squeaking. One of the limbs of the Rose-A-Sharon bush next to the house brushed against the edge of the metal roof. Bingo.

I didn't want to deal with it last night, but I made a mental note to trim the shrubs back to prevent future mysteries.

College football kicks off full force tomorrow. Alabama plays Florida State at the Georgia Dome in the Kickoff Classic. Some schools choose weaker opponents to begin their season. It seems these last several years, Alabama has bucked that trend and picked on colleges their own size. It should be a good game. If you don't have a preference, please pull for my guys.

Roll Tide.