Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

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Saturday smiles: Back in the swing edition

I’ve been on a sort of self-inflicted protest from this particular weekly post. The last couple of weeks have found us settling back in to the humdrum of life, and frankly, I didn’t have the emotional energy to pay attention to the things around me that are worth smiling about. We’re still in a tight spot financially. We’re not sure what to do about it specifically. The future doesn’t look all that bright or hold much promise. All that to say I’m feeling kind of stuck right now.

But this week offered some reasons to turn my grumpy attitude into a reluctant gratitude. Here’s a short list:

  • My husband taught our kids how to eat crackers off the table using only their mouths without touching the table. This is a trick he’s been sharing with future generations for years, and it makes me laugh to watch our kids try to imitate his antics.
  • I got to have coffee and baklava at the best coffee shop in town with a friend. A couple of hours out of the house is always good for a mood change.
  • A friend called just to check in. Adult interaction, even if by phone, reminds me that I’m not in this alone.
  • I had some meaningful online interactions this week, too. I know it’s no replacement for face-to-face, but in desperate times, it’s a connection to the outside world.
  • A stack of good books I’m currently plowing through.
  • Time to write. And a story I can’t get out of  my head even when I’m nowhere near a computer.
  • My artistic and creative children.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHer brother did this to her.

Also, it’s Groundhog Day, which is a silly holiday but still makes me smile a little. I still want to visit Punxsutawney sometime before we leave Pennsylvania.

It’s not a lot but it’s enough to get me through.

Here’s hoping for many more smiles in the week to come.

 

Saturday smiles: unexpected pleasure edition

Less than a week after missing my kids like crazy I’m counting the minutes till bedtime again. It’s been a stressful, tiring week. (Is there any other kind? I’m hopeful but I haven’t seen it yet.) We’re adjusting to a new work schedule for my husband and a new set of circumstances for the kids and me. Change always brings a bit of friction, doesn’t it?

But like those car commercials featuring Ted Allen explaining a type of fruit at a market and Peter Frampton filling in for a local band’s ill guitarist, this week held some unexpected pleasures.

Like our kids being super cooperative car travellers. This isn’t really unexpected because they’ve been subjected to these cross-country car trips their whole lives, but I keep thinking one of these days, we’re not going to be so lucky. So far, that day hasn’t come.

On this trip, Isabelle, our 4-year-old, made up her own game called “Dress the Houses.” The idea was that if you saw a house, you pretended to dress it: with a hat on the roof, overalls on the “body,” etc. Where she came up with that, I have no idea, but it gave us some laughs. Then we decided to try the story game, where one person starts a story and the next person adds to it and so on. I thought we were going to crash the car, we were laughing so hard. Isabelle titled the first story “Twins of the Heart.” I gave the “twins” the names “Lucy” and “Goosey.” She decided the parents would be named “Warzone” and “Exit.” (No prompting. I have no idea what goes on in that head of hers.)

Later she said, “I can’t keep my thoughts in my head.” Boy, do I know that feeling. Our second story featured a community of alligators. When some people came to visit the alligators “ate them to death” according to Isabelle. She also said her hair was the color “dipped in lizard.” It was all much funnier at the time, probably because we were road weary. School for her ought to be interesting. I’m dreading the parent-teacher conferences already.

We were housebound most of the week, which is unusual for us. I found some joy in the domestic arts of cooking and cleaning. I stocked our freezer with cream of carrot soup and homemade chicken stock. I made dinner every night this week except one. I even tried my hand at homemade cinnamon rolls this morning. (I need more practice.) I scrubbed the bathroom floor. I dusted. I kept the dishes clean. I washed and folded laundry. We still have areas that are messy in the house, but the next couple of months might find our house the cleanest it’s been since we’ve lived here.

We went trick-or-treating with another family, who have all become good friends to us, and even though it was dark and cold and we had to approach people’s houses (I get anxiety just thinking about it) and stand in a long and winding line at the local retirement home for safe trick-or-treat, we had fun. And the kids have enough candy to last us all till next year, at least.

We reconnected with another set of friends and had an afternoon of play that not only broke up the monotony of the week but encouraged me in many ways. Sometimes when I’m stressed and not feeling quite myself, I retreat from other humans and find comfort in books. This week, friends were a blessing. Not unexpected but I easily forget what I need.

I’m in no danger of buying a Buick anytime soon, but I can agree that this week, unexpected pleasures were the best part of life.