Every day has its highlights. Unless you are in the thick of tragedy, even the most ordinary 24 hours will have you thinking more than once -- wow, this is nice! For me, it's routine to ask Snowdrop at pickup time -- what was the highlight of your day? Let's recall those before we turn to all that was imperfect.
Take a day like this one: seemingly plain. Ed and I saw no one of note, and we went nowhere special. And yet...
I was up my usual time. It had been a chilly night. The water bowl where the cheepers pause for their midday drink was frozen and that cold snap was not letting up. Still, I'm getting used to the shift toward winter. The walk to the barn is invigorating!
I have three errands to run and they are all sweetly delightful. The bakery (what could be better on a cold morning...)!
Then, my Saturday pickup of farm produce from our local farmers, and this includes today a Thanksgiving turkey. It's small this year (the choice was small or large: we don't need large!), but looking at it just makes me smile. A family holiday, so soon!
Onto the post office. I had to wait there until it opened. A line formed. Behind me. It's funny how that works: if you have to wait 15 minutes for something to open, you are content to watch those minutes fly by. You take out your phone, read a newspaper article or two. Life is good. On the other hand, if you are in line behind a person who takes 15 minutes to take care of their shipping needs, you groan with impatient frustration.
No frustration for me.
Breakfast, with bakery treats and with Ed. Late, but he doesn't care and I certainly don't mind. Hot milky coffee, a croissant, fruits. And the bearded guy. Perfection.
The afternoon had two stellar moments. First, I asked my daughters to Zoom with me about the forthcoming celebrations. We need to coordinate and it's easiest if we bounce around ideas together. They delighted me by bringing their kids to the call (except for one who was napping).
The level of joviality immediately rises when the wee ones are present!
A call about holiday get-togethers, with grandkids attending. What could be better!
In the later afternoon Ed takes the rein in pushing the two of us out the door. It was threatening to be a repeat of yesterday -- me pacing the house because I did not feel the motivation to do a walk outside. Yes, it's gray out there. Yes it's cold. But surely we can find some pleasure, even if only along the trails of our city park by Lake Monona.
We do! It's crispy fresh, with an occasional snow flurry. There are birds on the water: American Coot I think, though I'm not sure...
This is not our favorite park for walking because you can always hear the hum of traffic somewhere in the background. But because our expectations are never high, we walk away deeply satisfied and today is no different!
We drive home. There is a dusting of snow outside. You can't call it a snowfall really. More like confectioner's sugar on a freshly baked cake.
At home, I open the file where I have begun to dig into my Next Great Writing Project.
Do you see why I would be so tickled with this day, even though really, nothing happened?
Oh, and supper was very insignificant. Eggs, veggies, salads. And chocolate!
With so much love on this beautiful November day...
