Tasty late lunch

Chickpeas are mixed with tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, and Parmesan for a sunny salad. ( Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune; Joan Moravek/food styling )

The early bird, in search of worm, plans ahead: clean socks, full agenda and a bag stocked with basics — computer, car key, cellphone. Should she leave on time, pop the trunk and drop in bag, she will be pleased. And, should she slam the door to the sound of a lock click, she will be alarmed.

She has filled her agenda with tasks and her bag with tools — all of which are now stowed in the trunk and locked up.

The early bird lets her wings droop. No agenda. No car. No computer. No phone. Not even Uber can rescue the bird without a phone.

Grounded, she takes a walk. She peers at early spring buds and pauses in early spring sunshine.

Back at the nest, she naps. She pulls together a late lunch from fortuitous fridge finds — chickpeas, parsley and lemon. The salad is tasty and sunny, pestered by neither text nor phone call. She smiles. Who likes worms anyway?

[e-mail]