Some time ago, my
sister "tagged" me, asking me, along with some others, to list six "unimportant things that make you smile". I am finally getting a round tuit, as they say. If this were done properly, I would pass this assignment on to six others, but I believe it has made the rounds to the extent that I do not know of six people left whom I would be comfortable burdening with the task. So, as a couple others have said, if you feel the spirit move you to make your own list, hey, go for it. Here's mine. (No pictures. Sorry. Lying on the couch with Pachelbel's Canon playing and not really inspired to snap relevant pictures. So , hey, Pachelbel's is the only "Canon" working tonight, eh?) OK, here we go:
1. Lying on the couch, listening to Pachelbel's Canon. Where'd that one come from?
2. Finding that rare CD I've been looking for. I was in a workshop over in Bowling Green, and when it was over, it was late in the afternoon so I stopped by
Finders Records, one of the few indy record shops left out there, and a darn fine one at that. DEEP inventory. I was able to find about four CDs I wanted along this huge wall of pre-owned CDs. Among the finds was one by Mary Fahl, the owner of the haunting voice that led a short-lived group called the October Project about ten years ago and gave it its distinctive sound. Listened to it in the car on the way home. Still haunting. (I say "still"; the CD dropped back in 2002). Anyhow, it was good stuff, and tracks 1,6, and 11 made me literally smile as I drove, so it fits the criterion.
3. Before we leave the world of music, I am compelled to add this one: making stuff up as I go along on the keyboard, or even the guitar, where I am not nearly as comfortable, but the whole exercise is great for my blood pressure and frame of mind. I can get lost just noodling on the keys. And, yes, I've been known to smile whilst noodling.
4. Walking trails, wondering what's over the next rise. Just this evening, Linda and I took to the nearby county-owned park and listened for a while to the stream gurgling past the shale outcroppings. A "babbling brook:" One of the best sounds in the world. We hope to walk a few more trails this summer.
5. Petting a dog. Yep, a pretty simple act, but when you are "between dogs", as we are, you forget how therapeutic just having the ol' girl or ol' boy around can be. So we have petted a few other people's dogs in the interim. I believe we will go the summer without a pooch, so if we want to up and take off, there are no worries back home. Plus, it doesn't seem right just yet. But by fall, don't be surprised if this blog features some pictures of some new four-legged household addition.
6. That elusive thing we call "family time". The cell phone vibrates, I look down, and it says "Emily" or "William" or "home". That alone can make me smile, before I even answer. Weekends like the upcoming one where, here and there, we will see both of our offspring, and our elusive (because of an insane work schedule) son in law. Vacation plans that include at least one of them. A weekend "retreat" where we are all holed up, together, poring over a board game or watching 8mm videos from ancient family history. This last one really does not qualify because, although it is making me smile, just writing about it, it is clearly not unimportant.
