So Sorry, So Glad

I was making my bed yesterday and thinking about my half-sisters' uncle. He was a Vietnam veteran who struggled with drugs and alcohol after returning from war. He eventually got it together, got married, had three beautiful girls, and worked as a carpenter. The weekend of February 1st, he passed away from cancer at the age of 58. He leaves behind his wife, three daughters (the oldest is 24), mother, sisters, nieces, nephews, etc.

As I was making the bed I was thinking about his life, his journey, not his death. I kind of felt like he was listening to me and in my head I kept repeating,

"I am so sorry that you died, but I am so glad that you lived."

Wisdom of Wharton

Thought: Part of being wise is seeking wisdom from others.

One of my favorite quotes from Edith Wharton in her autobiography, A Backwards Glance:

In spite of illness, in spite of even the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.

Etsy Bitsy

Thought: Hold on to your dreams until they come true.
Thought: Take it a step at a time.

Today I launched my Etsy shop, "Sincerely, Alex" here.

I have wanted to open my own shop/sell my crafts somewhere in some way since I taught myself to sew two years ago. It was never the right time or I thought I didn't have enough items made and I went back to school. It was just never the right time.

Recently, I stopped being a nanny. I had a lot of time over winter break to craft. Though the middle of my week is full, I have Monday and Friday off. I've met lots of Etsy Sellers on Twitter. My Brainy and Beautiful blog following has grown. It just seems like everything has fallen into place and it is the right time.

I've put myself out there. Now I'll just wait and see what happens.

The Kid in Me

Thought: Laugh loudly and heartily at least once a day, preferably with others.
Thought: Do at least one spontaneous, silly thing once a day.
Thought: Adults should get a minimum of twenty minutes of play time once a day.

Today was a nice balance of productivity and fun.

The fun occurred at my friend Irma's house. She and I and her sister-in-law, Tara, had lunch, watched the movie Duck Soup, and went for a leisurely walk.

Lunch was a treat for the senses. Irma made a nice salad with avocado and vinegar, butternut squash soup flavored with curry spices, and homemade whole wheat bread. Amazing!

Warming and filling for the body.

I had never seen a Marx Brothers movie before. Irma and Tara grew up on them. I told them I had always, since watching the Gilmore Girl's episode with the Marx Brothers movie party, wanted to see Duck Soup. So, we watched it and laughed until we cried.

Warming and filling for the soul.

Then we went for a walk. We took photos. We slogged through knee high snow to swing on the swing set at the park. We fell in the snow helping each other up and giggled while shaking snow out of everywhere.

Warming and filling for the heart.

My inner child was wide awake.

Which got me to thinking, kids have playtime and, I think are generally happier and more care-free than most adults. Playrooms in every work place and a mandatory 20 minutes of playtime built into the work day would be good for everyone.

What do you think? What would/do you do for playtime once a day?

A Little Birdy Told Me

Thought: Take notice of the little things.
Thought: Be gentle with yourself and others.
Thought: Tread lightly. Don't forget to look down.
Thought: Singing sweetens even the most mundane moments.
Thought: Friends are one of life's greatest benefits.

Three little birdies taught me all of, remind me of all of these things today.

I was standing at the bus stop on a busy road today. I was on the phone with a friend, pretty oblivious to my surroundings. Then I heard chirp chirping, but saw no birds above. They were below, standing beside me talking to each other, singing songs. One little guy kept slipping a bit on the ice, but his two friends were right beside him, propping him up. I just fell in love with those little birdies. They gave me my little dose of magic in the every day.

Sunrise Surprise

Thought: If you are looking for magic, just turn around.

My husband and I have two cars, but only one assigned parking space. Winter parking bans insist he park his car across the street in the school parking lot every night November through April. The catch: One of us must get up and move the car back onto the street at 6:30 every morning. Usually my husband does it since he has to get up for work anyway. Recently, I decided I would be the one to move the car on Saturdays and Sundays since my husband works so hard all week long.

I am not at peace with the cold weather or the wee morning hours, but I'm trying to embrace it. Saturday morning was o.k. since I'd been up with insomnia all night long and was pretty much numb to everything, but this morning I was wide awake and feeling it. It was dark and frigid. On my walk to the car I was blind to everything but the cold and the sidewalk leading me to the car. As I fumbled to unlock the doors I asked myself why it was that I agreed to get up early on the weekend and shuffle through the cold in my pj's and slippers to move this silly vehicle. As I turned the car out of the parking lot, I saw the answer that I had my back to the whole time. A flaming red sky. The whole world clear and still and colorless against a magnificent scarlet backdrop. A gift. No more complaining.