Reading my friend Pappy’s site today made me think of thoughts I had a while back. It also made me get off my ass and go for a walk, which Milo enjoyed greatly.
I’m not sure if I’m just on Cloud 9 lately, or if I’m just trying to focus on the good things, and not the stress and worry of the future, the past, the what ifs, etc. It’s not a concious focus, so maybe I’m just slowly, slowly learning to relax.
As I was walking Milo the other morning, the bees were buzzing, it was pleasantly warm, the sun was shining, the flowers on the bushes were blooming. I smiled. As I smiled, and side-stepped the snail, I started making a list in my head of all the things that make me smile, and make my worries melt away.
When I stepped out today, and saw the leaves above, I decided when I got back in, whether or not I had the time, I would at least sit down and put some of my thoughts down in writing…
Things that Make me Smile
Colors in nature – especially when they match the vibrant outfit I’m wearing
The sun warming the crown of my head
The smell of flowers blooming on the first day of spring
Milo’s prance
Nin ordering me a birthday present off the internet (and it getting here!)
The smell of Indian food on my right hand
Raju laughing at my loving his Mom’s mango pickle
Raju’s mom taking the time to show me how to make her mango pickle
The brilliant blue of the sky
The slightly damp air on a warm morning
The pomeranian on the trail with it’s butt shaved (actually, this one made me laugh)
The twinkle in Raju’s eye when he laughs at a little kid running
Being moved to create something
My Dad’s hug
Lounging outside while typing this list, or enjoying a glass of wine in my little outdoor sanctuary in the evening
The sparkle of my engagement ring in the sun
The first time I start up the grill when the weather warms
Yes, it is a new year. And there’s no more James Brown. And I’m now trying to plan a wedding. Wow, is 2007 different. Even the weather is different. It is a beautiful day — 69 degrees officially, but my south facing porch’s thermometer is reading 93 (no way it is that hot — I’m sitting here in jeans and I’m comfy).
I’ve been lazy. I had lots of thoughts swirling through my head for pictures, but now they’ve all flown the coop. I didn’t write them down, so I guess I’ll just hope they find their way back home, and that next time I won’t be so lazy. I also had goals to reach. Goals to get the shop up. Goals to get websites built for friends. Goals to get Gigis Finds back on line. Goals to save money (I have, a little), to pay off debts (I guess I have, a lot, but it doesn’t feel like it), to sale some photos through stock photography sites, to shoot every day, to start painting, to re-grow my herb garden, to learn French.
Note, these were all goals, not resolutions. I don’t make resolutions for the new year — they seem doomed to failure. But, then again, my goals aren’t being reached either 🙂 So maybe I should try something new this year.
I’ll think about that some more tomorrow. For now, I’ll enjoy the sun…
Some people seem to think it’s not Christmas if you don’t have snow and your nose isn’t in danger of frostbite. I wondered what it would be like to have Christmas in California. I thought it would be odd, slightly less Christmasy. I had only one taste of the warm Christmas in my childhood — but it was a Disney Christmas, in Florida, with fake snow and Mickey and Minnie.
But it seems California overcompensates for the lack of snow. More lights, more decorations, more celebrations (at least more than the small town I was from, and even from Plaza-lit Kansas City). There’s lots of celebrations for Christmas in the smaller towns — treelit streets, snow brought in for snowball fights, ice-skating under the palm trees. It seems every park, square, or small downtown has some sort of special Christmas celebration.
The result? I look forward to Christmas instead of dreading running in and out of the stores in the slush and the cold. It puts a silly smile, this California Christmas.
This blog began in 2005 as I picked up from Kansas City and moved to California. It has been a repository of thoughts, both past and present, movie reviews, book reviews, and a peek into my art and my life. So if you've ever wondered what goes on under the Hatter's hat, here's a way to peek under the lid.
