What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?
Snacks?
Yesterday I had to speed mow the lawn because there was a very short window between rain storms due to ‘Depression Debby’. Later, in the rain, we loaded branches from the tree we trimmed the other day, into the back of the pickup and made three trips to the dump. This is how we pass the time here. It’s better than staring out the window hoping to see some blue sky.
Unfortunately there were no pressing things to do today, Debby is sticking around. so we decided to take a drive.
It’s actually less rainy in Massachusetts, but no less green.
A little snack is always a good idea on epic road trips to nowhere in particular. I would recommend it.
Other dimensions have always fascinated me, quantum physics. I sometimes like to read about the concept of infinite possibilities. Probably philosophy in general because I also read a convincing book about no free will. I probably live in my head more than I ought to. This stuff can inspire some fun conversations with the right people.
I wonder who I’d be if some of my sliding door moments had gone the other way.
So many tiny things affect who we are and how our lives play out. What if we could go back in time and change one or two things?
At the end of the day, I think you just get what you get and do the best you can with it, but what if one change could mean a whole different me?
Are our thoughts, beliefs, lifestyle, preferences etc influenced by where we were born and how we grew up? What does that mean for when we die?Assuming we don’t end, but continue on without a body or culture or any physical senses like sight or sound.
I easily get mind blown over these concepts. Death seems like the ultimate alternative universe. I hope I turn out to be genuinely kind. I guess I mostly just don’t want to be a jerk, or find out I’m one. If I get to choose, I choose to be encouraging and nice to hang out with…
But let’s just, in honor of changing up a few small things, change a few small things today.
I decided I felt like eating toast for breakfast. So I did. I decided I wanted to read a book before going to see the movie when it comes out on Friday. I liked the superficial things I saw on the news about the movie. Fashion, set design. I’ll probably go alone because I don’t yet have a friend to invite along. It might be a cheesey movie, the book isn’t like actual literature, but it’s a fun summer read.
Maybe I’ll just go through today doing things I wouldn’t normally do because, why not? Who will care? Maybe I’ll affect the cosmic dimensional reality of my life’s trajectory. Maybe not, but who would know?
A year from now, I’m completely different because I ate toast and read a book, went to a movie, and let’s see, what else do I feel like doing today?
What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it?
I used to spend huge amounts of cash on holiday meals. It was one meal, many many one celebration meals, full of tradition and family and deliciousness, there were so many! Were they worth all the time, trouble and money?
Absolutely.
I couldn’t have known then, that those days and with them, those little kids, and all the extended friends and family would pretty much disappear too.
I love my memories of big family meals. I actually enjoyed all the extra work, (with the exception of cleaning ahead of time, deep cleaning has never been my favorite, but it was fun to have a super clean house afterwards, so no regrets there either). My kids helped me shop, prep, decorate.
Every sort of celebration birthday, holiday, accomplishment had its own food, and decor and fun aspects to get inspired by. I don’t know why I find this kind of thing so fun, but we all did.
We had some amazing meals over the years. work? fun? I can’t explain it. I have funny memories of my little capable sou chefs sitting on the counter peeling potatoes, shucking corn, grating cheese. I’d maneuver around, baby in a carrier, kids all over the place helping, music playing, how did they understand all the dynamics of aesthetics and food? They just knew what was important or I guess went along with it. Not surprising that they all grew up to be great cooks who love to celebrate!
One time we prepared for their younger brother’s Star Wars party. My daughter paper macheted a remarkably believable Death Star piñata. The whole week before was our own party. Costumes, they decided would be optional, but for them, super important. Cutest four year old Han Solo ever!
I’m glad for all the time, work, mess, and chaos. I loved piling food in the grocery cart and so did my helpers. I’m so glad for the memories, which funny enough, are more from getting ready, than the actual meal itself.
Worth it? Oh yes! Completely!
With kids of their o n to celebrate, going all out, is still a thing! (Yes that is a home made cake from scratch)
Scour the news for an entirely uninteresting story. Consider how it connects to your life. Write about that.
There’s a somewhat uninteresting post that comes up often enough on my insta feed. I’m going to use that instead of an uninteresting AND negative news story. I’m pretty much a big yawn on all the manifesting “learn more” posts, but this one I swipe past with the speed of zero interest every time.
Until today. I decided to google her to see who she was. A TED talk by her came up, so I listened to it.
It’s a good reminder that when you are ready, you’ll ask.
So her advice was simple and perfect for me today
Create a specific dream, visualize it often. Refuse to stay discouraged. Understand that change is uncomfortable but good. Trying to stay comfortable isn’t how to evolve.
Something like that.
Refuse to STAY discouraged! I love that. I can’t decide not to ever become discouraged, if I could, I would. These last few days were impossible. I was sick and exhausted and trying to rally and losing. So much was a struggle, I stepped away and forgot, then feeling terrible, I was back defending the silliest choices. Plus the heat and the level of humidity I’ve never contended with for so long…
But I never have to STAY discouraged! In fact I get to refuse to stay discouraged. Things change. My throat stopped hurting, rain and wind cooled off the day. Life moved.
This was helpful.
Also, my discomfort, it might be okay. I can mostly ignore it. But when I can’t, I can remind myself that change is underway. Change IS happening.
I’m now sitting in the breezeway after the farmers market, a quick grocery stop and doing laundry. Sitting, enjoying the breeze.
This breezeway phenomenon is pretty amazing. Truly, I one hundred percent, understand its value, especially now.
I might have thought to frame in the space between the garage and the house, make a little mud room, thinking why walk from the garage to the house in the cold of winter.
But here’s why. The summer heat can be crazy, weirdly, this partly roofed in space between house and garage, somehow creates its own windy little tunnel. Even the neighbor’s dog knows this is the coolest place to sit. cooler than the beach.
I’m feeling super grateful for the breeze. Things to beat the humidity and heat, who knew?!
Just another thing I’ve learned about living in New England. Never underestimate the power of a breezeway!
Here is a good exercise for me today. I woke up feeling lousy, again. Summer colds man, no wonder kids are so miserable when they get one.
It’s hot and humid already. Moods are low. Rain is in the forecast. What might make me happy? I’d be great with fine, happy feels like a bridge too far. I’m even fine with letting today be a throwaway day. Suffer away, why not, I will appreciate happiness all the more later, tomorrow, next week, I don’t know.
But here goes…
My grandkids, always, family mostly, kids are a wild card, parental worry crops up, what can I say?
My friends
Coffee, the perfect cup at the perfect temperature
Comfortable clothing
A good outfit
Cookies, fresh baked with extra cold milk
Being accepted and loved
Chester town’s farmer’s market
I’m happy he wore this shirt today, so easy to spot!
A break in the weather!
Plums ripe off a tree
Baking
Feeling at home
Early corn on the cob
Yoga
Humor
Seeing beautiful things
Good Music
Looking forward to something fun
This is a tough list to make. I wouldn’t have thought so but, I’m only half way…
Being lucky
Having plenty of money
My own bed
My boat
Art
Playfulness
A good laugh
The ocean
Driving in the jeep
Flowers
An amazing meal
Luxury
A good movie with a friend
Pizza
Little surprising perfect moments
Good memories
Lots of things make me happy. I’m usually a pretty happy person, but I do know the other side. My little discomforts are small today and comparatively, quite trivial. I know that when I feel better everything will look and feel differently, but nice to make a list and feel a little happy as I think of each thing.
Today and yesterday and the day before, pain killer, Tylenol, ibuprofen, aspirin, any one of these has made me happy for a few hours…I’m very happy they exist!
I would ordinarily say yoga without even thinking, but today I’ve actually not done my usual yoga for weeks because of traveling and such.
Today I’m going to pick coffee drinking as my joyful habit because, that, I have not missed one single day of.
Plus, it truly brings me joy. Even with this terrible head cold. Even with no sleep, even when I can barely swallow. Hot coffee never disappoints. I have a weird (I’m calling it so you know it’s fine) blending out of my coffee with ginger tea. It’s more coffee at first, then less and less coffee more tea as the day goes on. Always with the perfect splash of heavy cream. I stay hydrated, comforted, whatever magic I need on that day. Lately, it’s been nice on my throat.
There. Coffee. I have no regrettable feelings about this habit. None whatsoever.
My good friend Wendi used to feel guilty for her coffee. She tried quitting so often. If only she could hear the-coffee-is-good-for-you bandwagon of late. I wish she could enjoy a guilt free cup right now.
The sun is shining, but we are heading into thick fog. Its a little past 8am and I think we are heading into what they call the open sea (?), as we ferry our way to Block Island. They really are using a fog horn!
G just said we would see the island if there wasn’t fog. Today, I suppose, it will be sneaking up on us.
Locker, Vespa rental. And away we go.
It’s pretty hot and humid. 80 degrees and climbing, with 90 percent humidity. The Vespa was a great choice! We could cool off and see the whole island. It felt like nothing could beat the oppressive thick heat, but on the back of the Vespa, wind in my hair, I felt great! We left the fog behind and enjoyed a fun ride.
After a nice lunch. A frozen Amberhol Spritz oh my! AC is in short supply here on Block, so frozen drinks are a perfect way to cool down on a beautiful Inn porch.
We had to race back to return the bike (how did four hours slip by so fast?)
Spent time at two beaches. I found no orbs where I walked, I looked hard. Found tons of hidden trash though. G had a seal hang out with him in the water at one empty beach we found.
We went back in the water right before buying ice cream for the ferry ride back.
Sunburned teens and tired children. Lots of crying and exhausted silence on this return ride. As I reflected on our day and realized that it was a full twelve hours, most of it outside in the sun and humidity. No wonder we were exhausted!
My summer cold had me feeling like going straight to bed when we got back. G and his mom wanted to walk down to a summer fireman’s carnival for a hot dog. This tiny event is something from G’s childhood. I opted out. If I feel better tomorrow I’ll join, but tonight my day is complete.
I used to think that I needed to understand everything, which led me to ask a lot of questions. Now I seem to have made peace with not understanding. I’m completely fine when things don’t make any sense at all. I just think well, they probably did at some point and they probably do to someone.
I just roll with so much more now. Life is short. Why not enjoy the most out of everything as it comes at me.
Tomorrow we are going to Block Island. I thought I never would. I am learning of the plan in spurts. Like we have to leave at 6:30 am to catch the ferry.
I have a slight head cold so up and out that early will be a little challenging. I was just in Red Rocks with my brother who assured me that flip flops would be fine to hike in since the paths were gravel and not steep. I will include a pic of the ‘easy non steep’ climb we did. It was super fun anyway, but you know, shoes would have been a good thing. G is saying sure, wear flip flops…
I know nothing about Block Island except that they have these things called mudslides. An alcoholic ice cream milk shake thing. Sounds yummy but I’m a total light weight, but everyone raves about them.
Oh and there are these glass orbs made by a local artist, hidden all over the island. It’s a huge thing, everyone searches for them.
Other than that, I will be taking it as it comes. A fun adventure we always meant to take. And now we are…
Peace Kit 