24 hour happiness

6:00pm Highway 70, windows down, India.Arie turned up loud.

Attempting to turn my brain off, or just figure it out.

8:00 Mexican dinner and a pitcher of margaritas with the parentals

“are you drunk?” “me? No!” Being driven home anyway.

And then – a good nights sleep

7:15am Nora at my door, “wake up”.

“yea, yea I’m up,” and I smile.

8:00, hour and a half long yoga class with the sista

Three mile run along the river – alone. Musical accompaniment of Carpark North. 24 minutes, and I’m done. Running through dandelions blowing in the wind. Free.

Noticing- a dust bath for the birds. Sun on skin. Ripples that swirl. The look in that old dogs eye. The kind, silent stare of the passerby. Empty bottles strewn along the shore.

Looking at a beautiful mess

The train’s whistle that brings back a flood of memories. Childhood, home, I’m here.

A cold bottle of water and the rough wood bench watching the water roll by.

Getting off the bench, moving forward.

10:30 Scrambled eggs and fruit smoothies made by mom.

Discuss how to save the turtle.

Sunning in the yard next to roscoe. The endearing company of a friend who has nothing to say. He reaches over and puts his paw on my hand, as if to say “I understand”.

Bring present, living this moment. Holding it while I have it.

Pain. Contentment. Confusion. Acceptance.

Asking Jesus to journey with me. Being assured that he already is.

12:00 chatting with the brother. “Those pants, the blue shirt, that tie- good.”

Sale shopping, a new dress and a used book.

Ice cold cokes.

Back to the grass, laying sprawled out, loving each moment of the summer heat.

4:00 fresh nail polish, phones calls to friends.

Fascination with bird nests, and the work that it takes.

Anna arrives, with way too much spunk. She’s grown but still loves to hug. And for this I am grateful. A trip outside to visit the sheep.

Poke the turtle again, “are you sure it’s not dead?”

Shower, nice clothes, embrace my all natural curls.

7:00 dinner to celebrate to soon to be weds. Family, cousins. “How have you been(s)”, and jokes from the past.

9:00pm home again, sitting at the table with the warm breeze blowing in. I sit to reflect.