Monday, March 2, 2015

Cake and Sledding at David's!

My fiance, David, is impossible to buy for. His favorite things in the world are unusual and indefinable items of clothing that his best friend, Charles, buys for him in India. So for his 29th birthday, which was last Wednesday, I bought him an experience: a sixty minute soak in a Sensory Deprivation Tank. He also got a big snowstorm. I'd call the whole evening a win, although it almost wasn't.

The previous day, I'd battered away at the keyboard and got all three of my articles finished so that I could spend Dave's birthday reading a chapter of chemistry and making a big pot of chili. I'd invited a few friends to come over around seven and bought one sheet of wrapping paper with cars on it to wrap a book his brother had sent. When it comes to cooking and cleaning and decorating I'm useless, hopeless, just horribly untalented, and David knows that and loves me anyway, although he did gingerly suggest that we all go out to a restaurant. But we have a House now and I'm going to be a Wife so I insisted on hosting. I was going to make cornbread. To go with the chili. And assemble a makeshift chip n' dip with a collection of small bowls and a cutting board.
I went to the grocery store first, which was a mad house because a snowstorm was coming and people were wrenching bread out of each other's hands and clambering down the dairy aisle balancing milk on their heads because their hands were full of other milk. After that I went to the dollar store to buy one of those foil Happy Birthday banners, and yes I know David is not seven, but it still felt necessary. I ran a few more errands and bought daisies and inched through the West Asheville traffic which, before a 'snow event', can rival Seattle's.

When I got home, I spread everything out on the kitchen table, checked the clock, and congratulated myself for timing everything so perfectly. Then my editor called and asked where the rest of the twelve articles were that I'd promised to write. Suddenly my blood went cold and my face got hot and I realized I'd confused two different assignments and was about 12,000 words short of finishing my work that had been due six hours ago.

When it comes to estimating the amount of things that one can accomplish in a given amount of time, I can be straight up delusional. But even I understood that I wasn't going to write my articles and make dinner happen and straighten up the house and hang the little banner I'd bought in four hours.

Now, I don't think I would get fired if I didn't do the work but I also wouldn't get paid, and that would present its own set of problems.
So I pushed aside the daisies and the little cans of poblano peppers, opened up the computer and started typing. A little stream of tears splashed down onto the keyboard as I imagined our guests arriving and finding me melted into a pool of incompetence on the floor surrounded by onions.

A few minutes of this nonsense went by and there was a knock and the dog bolted from her bed and went careening toward the door. There stood my friend Kelli, holding a sled that she had borrowed and was there to return. She took a look at me all slouched and pathetic, then looked passed me at the house torn apart and the table cluttered with a deconstructed birthday meal still in a cans and boxes, and she said, "I'll do it."

I didn't even ask.
And she did everything, she cooked the double recipe of chili and made two batches of cornbread, she set out the cakes and put the daisies into a jar and cleaned the kitchen. Then she left. She had plans to see a movie. She didn't even eat anything, just said, "Oh, it's no problem," and breezed out the door as I stood there with my jaw hanging open like an idiot.

I finished the writing, and by the time Dave's friends arrived at seven everything looked all polished and effortless. Charles came down all the way from Boone to surprise him, even though he was sick and feverish and sat on the couch with glassy eyes not saying a word. His girlfriend Sarah and their little girl Charli dragged me to the bathroom and made me put on my wedding dress and they fawned over me and Sarah cried and Charli begged me to let her braid my hair all evening long.

Meanwhile, everybody was eating the chili and telling me how delicious it was, and what was the secret ingredient? Poblano Peppers, I lied. Outside the snow was falling thick and heavy, and we bundled up and went sledding with the neighbors on our steep, curving dead end road. By then I was happy I'd hung up that little-kid birthday banner because the whole night started to feel like those fabulous little kid birthday parties, you know, "Cake and Sledding at David's!" or whatever, except that when we found out that school had been cancelled for the next day we all took a shot of Vermont gin.
The snow fell all night long, and when we woke up the next morning, the town was muffled and empty and soft. Everybody scrambled to go skiing except me, because I needed to crack open the chemistry text book which I had yet to do this semester, and I still haven't, because I spent the day just walking around the streets looking at the snow and thinking about all the the nice things that have been happening lately. Then I got the flu.

And here is where we transition into Mystery Prize Monday! This week, tell me (tell all of us) something beautiful that has happened to you lately. You may interpret beautiful in any way you'd like. Please, remember my flu status, propped up in bed with a headache, watching the sunlight creep across the wall during the infinitely long and aching day. Tell me something really lovely, so I can pretend for a moment that your life is my life.

This is a very important Mystery Prize. My friend Maggie from Washington state is raising money to buy her little boy a diabetes alert dog. The fact that a dog can be smart enough to detect fluctuating blood sugar levels is astounding. You can find out more about Maggie, Angus and their efforts to bring home Bruce here.

This week, the winner of the mystery prize, chosen randomly from amongst the comments, will receive a letter, a little something sweet in the mail, and a donation in their name to Angus and Bruce. As always, thank you for reading, thank you for commenting, thank you for everything.

52 comments:

Kirsten Gardner said...

The Emerald Mile is the best book I've read in a year! Last week a ton of friends and not quite friends yet came out to support a fundraising event for the group I volunteer with. I was expecting a poor turnout and was a bit stressed about it but more than 70 people came, merriment was had and funds were raised. It was fantastic and I am so grateful for all of the people in my life who were there (and many who were not.)

meg bird said...

"'Cake and Sledding at David's!' or whatever, except that when we found out that school had been cancelled for the next day we all took a shot of Vermont gin. "

bahaha. I'm so happy about all of the good things happening lately. And what a lovely friend you have, to do all of that for you. I think that probably says a lot about you as well, for someone to think you're worth all of that work. That sounded rude but I actually meant it as a large compliment.

As far as something beautiful goes, my husband and I saw Gregory Alan Isakov in concert. They played "The Universe" with all of the lights turned off, and I rested my head on his shoulders with my hands in my lap as we heard him sing, "And everybody says that she's beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful..."

It was reverent and life-changing and one of the loveliest moments I can recall.

Lorri E. said...

Yikes, the flu. No fun. If you were me you would have just finished a weekend of celebrating the life of one smiley, giggly, and strong little boy who has been spinning his way around the sun for an entire 365 days. That little boy would also happen to be your very own son. And you'd still be in awe of the fact that someone calls you mama and demands that you learn how to butter toast one-handed so that you can also hold him.You'd still be glowing from the high fives and hell-yeah-you-made-it's from your friends and smiling ear to ear because (holy shit!) the kid took three steps the day before his birthday.

Casey Toby said...

I leave on a boat for a few days on Sunday; after my step-son meets his new step-great-grandparents who are going to just eat him up. Really looking forward to a week off of work, being on/in the ocean, having someone else cook and clean up all of the messes. Plus, good food and no cell phone reception. I know you should be reading School Books, but the Game of Thrones books are much recommended when you have a lot of downtime. Also, Pup Snuggles come highly recommended for being sick :)

Cassie said...

My dog peed on our bed this week. That was not beautiful but it did result in a deep cleaning session that left our mattress and white bedding (also, slightly blood stained from a hangnail) crisp, lavender-y and more beautiful than the day we bought it. Crawling into that bed almost made the whole 90lb dog peeing on the bed thing worth it.

Feel better soon! I highly recommend a couple of these: http://food52.com/recipes/8348-kentucky-hot-toddy

Katie said...

Something beautiful for this week? I've got it. I live in West Texas, where it rarely snows. But on Friday, we got it! I woke up to snow, snow that actually stuck and I hightailed it out the door for pictures. Later in the day, I bundled up. And I walked. I just moved back to my hometown from a big city, and I've been missing the walking. So in the snow and the cold, I walked. And it was beautiful. I walked all the way to my old elementary school, where I found an empty playground and swings just begging to be swung on. So I hopped on the swings. For 30 minutes. And the cold air just invigorated me. Woke me up. Made me feel better - it was so beautiful.

I know everyone is sick of the snow right now, but for me, that was just a really good part of my weekend.

I hope you feel better! The flu is the worst. When I have a cold I've found that ginger tea sometimes helps my head - not sure if that would help you, but it's a thought!

Maggie said...

Something lovely? I have this friend whom I've never hugged, yet she's reached from the Atlantic to the Pacific to love and support my family.

Melina,

Your words, altruism, and heart inspire so many. Me included.

Love. So much of it.

Maggie

Sarah said...

Ick, Lina...the flu!! I hope it doesn't hold you hostage for too long!

Something beautiful....you'll appreciate this! Skiing with my dad AND my kids, who have been taught on the slopes by my dad since each was age 3. My 9 year old daughter is INSANE and is as good - no, honestly, she's even better because she has no fear - than my veteran skiier sef! Double blacks and glades! She's on them! My 7 year old son was in a snowplow until spending Feb vaca with his grandfather, and now is skiing "French fries" and doing tight S turns and hockey stops! My dad isn't much of a talker, but I cherish those chairlift rides together, even when its just comfortable silence. We're heading to NH again this weekend to ski together and I can't wait!

Amanda M. said...

This week has been hard. My little boy ended up in the emergency room with croup ~ or as he calls it, 'crout", which made me laugh when I just wanted to cry for him. Poor little man...

Also, my husband and I lost a very good friend to cancer. He found out 19 days before he passed. It's too fast....not enough time to understand, much less accept the fact that he is gone. He was a healthy man, in his early 50's, who had 2 boys under the age of 10. To say we are heartbroken is an understatement.

So, to find something beautiful? Hard, but not impossible.

Beautiful is my sweet, feverish little boy who crawled over me in the middle of the night because he just wanted to be near his Daddy.

Beautiful is a life short-lived, but the legacy left to 2 sweet little boys....and everyone else who was blessed to know him.

Life is hard, but it can be beautiful, even in the messiest of times. Hope you feel better soon. <3

Jen T said...

I have to use a different account to share this here, because it's still mostly a secret. My husband and I began trying for a baby right after Christmas. We found out we are pregnant on January 15th. We found out we're having twins two weeks ago. This news is both shocking and exciting. I can't stop staring in awe at the two sweet blobs on the sonogram picture. We got to tell our parents last weekend and I've never seen so many tears and shrieks of joy. It was beautiful.

Tonya said...

We unexpectedly woke up Sunday morning to 8 inches of snow. My sweet 10 year old birthday girl climbed into my bed and wept. She knew what this meant. We had to cancel her carefully planned ice skating birthday party with her girls--it wasn't safe to be on the road. As tears poured down the kindest face I have ever known, I struggled with how to make this day wonderful. Then something beautiful happened....the amazing people in our life started showing up. Our tribe saved us. They weren't about to let our girl's birthday celebration crash in the snow storm. So, what started as a well planned party ended in a make shift neighborhood snow ball fight followed by cake, candles, and a crazy loud singing of Happy Birthday. And at the end my girl said, "best birthday ever"....and that was beautiful.

Amanda said...

Chili and cord bread - my ultimate cold weather fave!

Surprisingly, something beautiful has come out of this really hard winter. The snow is turning black, so I guess that's a good thing. But that's not it...

Despite how foggy and slug-like I have felt this season, me and a good friend of mine started spending more time together, only to realize how closely our values and viewpoints synced up. We have been collaborating together on a little creative venture over the past few weeks, a first for us both, and I think it's the start to a beautiful partnership. It's exciting to create, especially with a friend.

meg@ourwaytoeat.com said...

I have been married for 5 years, and by choice, my husband and I do not have kids at this time. What has been beautiful lately is that we get to have "date night" multiple times per week. It is effortless and it happens often, but it always feels special. We really enjoy our time together and have a lot of fun. We aren't wealthy, but because we have grown up jobs, and not that many responsibilities we describe our life together as being rich teenagers. Its pretty fun, and it feels beautiful. Feel better!

ahotsouthernmess said...

I celebrated a special occasion with someone I love dearly who loves me back. It's not a romance...but a very nice relationship that sustains me and brings me joy. And I am absolutely amazed and happy to have it (and him) in my life.

Jill said...

My life has been so unbelievably lovely lately and I am soaking it all up, sponge-style. Specifically, in the past 24 hours, I found out about a new job opening that I am actually qualified for in my area! This is big news. I love my current job but have quietly resigned myself to staying put for a few more years, sure nothing would open up. I may not even get this job, but the opportunity, the potential, the hope is just making me swoon with delight! The SECOND amazing thing: my brave, bold, beautiful sister is dating a wonderful guy and made it official today! This doesn't sound like a big deal except that she has some social anxieties and hasn't had a boyfriend in years, never finding the right guy and having her heart broken. I can tell this one is different and I am bubbling with joy for her today.

Feel better, Melina! It sounds like you have the loveliest of support networks... nothing better than that!

P.S. Can we get pics of your friend's son's dog when he gets him?

Mandy Weston said...

I hope you recover from the flu quickly! Drink hot water with lemon slices and all the other home remedies!

I volunteered for a bighorn sheep survey in the San Gabriel mountains this past weekend. We woke up Sunday morning to a lovely dusting of snow on top of the mountains and a forecast of rain and slush all day. We put on all of our layers of clothing and drove to the trailhead of our assigned route. In the parking area we saw three bighorn sheep! I'd never seen one before and I've been searching for years, so this was a big deal. We hiked up switchbacks along the mountain until we hit a creek bed full of sand, cobbles, and boulders where it began to rain. We slowly picked our way up the creek bed, the rain getting progressively worse, and we eventually stopped when a cloud of fog descended upon us. Since visibility along the ridges was shot, we decided to stop for lunch and turn around. Five minutes into lunch the rain began to turn into fat, fluffy snowflakes; the snow only lasted for a few minutes, but for those minutes in the mountains surrounded by shivering pine and cedar trees it was pure magic. It rained the entire hike back and I couldn't have been happier.

Rachel said...

I'm from the tiniest town and I've had an unquenchable wanderlust since the day I learned to dream. When the opportunity came for me to move to The City (New York City, at that), I took it. A risk and an adventure and something totally unfamiliar for this farm girl with roots that run deep. But with tragedy at home and the ground shattering beneath my feet, this move has threatened to destroy me. But then. It snowed yesterday. Glorious, twirling, heavy and wet, sit on your face for a second before it melts into you, kind of snow. The city was quiet, and so I ran, slipping and sliding and happy. A beautiful gift for my winter loving soul.

Then, this morning, on a slushy walk to work, when I was relishing the sun that seemed to signal spring, I came across an older gentleman helping little old ladies jump across the puddle at a particularly messy intersection. And that act of kindness was so beautiful that I fell in love with humanity all over again.

Rachel said...

Also, happy birthday David! Your friend sounds spectacular, by the way. It's so good to have a people like that.

Katie said...

My husband and I celebrated birthdays this week. We has a sitter on Saturday and upgraded from a typical beer at a bar date night to dinner at a nice restaurant and after dinner drinks at a trendy cocktail lounge. So not "us" but a so needed change of pace from our routines and the unending Midwest winter.

Hope you're feeling better!

Unknown said...

This past weekend I celebrated over 25 years of friendship with the greatest group of woman at a cabin deep in the Montana woods. We hiked with the dogs, made food, laughed a ton, drank adult beverages, played boggle, and laughed some more. It was beautiful to feel so comfortable and solid in my community of friends.

Haleigh said...

You make Vermont sound Magical!
It's been a tough week, but one thing that stands out for me is playing with several kids this weekend. I have an amazing job at a preschool and being around happy kids never gets old.
Feel better!

Jan Marie said...

I didn't spend a night away from my baby until he was 14 months old. When Lennon started spending time with his father, I literally had to relearn how to function outside of my role as a mother. I would drive somewhere to get something done, only to sit in my car, back out, and go back home. I put my heart and soul into being a parent and built my life around my son to the point that I lost my identity and sight of my own hopes and dreams. I'll never regret that mentality, but being forced to spend time away from my child has helped me to slowly get back in touch with everything I wanted for myself, before my everything became my son. I decided early on in this process that I was not going to use my free time on petty shit, poor decisions, and actions that leave me feeling empty inside. I immediately turned to my first love and passion, fitness, to fill my empty void, but overtime, I wanted something even more fulfilling than that. Something that would benefit my son, as well as myself. In October I applied to Penn State University's Doctorate of Nursing Practice Program and after five long months of anticipation, I'm ecstatic to say "I got in."

carolyn said...

While the east coast is getting all of this snow here in Oregon we have been having beautiful warm sunshine, it like a little bit of heaven. I too am very excited for Angus to get his dog!! ❤️🐶☀️Such a great prize☺️

Lauren F. said...

Today (really yesterday since it's past midnight) was the birthday of a little boy with autism, whom I love. He's 15 now but he'll always be my little boy. We went out to dinner at Red Robin (me, his other nanny, and his dad and stepmom) and his smile when everyone sang happy birthday could have lit up the world. It did.

Jona said...

Happy Birthday to Dave, and hope you feel better soon! Something beautiful this week - hearing our 1 month year old say "Big Sister" as we call our families at home to tell them of our next new arrival! And congratulations to Jen T on your great news too! You seem to have a special group of people who read this blog Lina (as if you didn't already know...)

Smaychel said...

My beautiful thing starts out a bit rough, so bear with me! A year ago my stepdad passed away from a long, horrible illness. Since I was a child I have loved (LOVED) poetry, and I wrote a poem to read at his funeral.

Over the following weeks I found myself evaluating my life and what I was doing with it, probing for areas where I still had unfulfilled dreams. As cliché as it is, I didn't want to get to the end of my life and have regrets. My poetry was the biggie. So I took the rather terrifying step of starting to send my stuff out into the world, and to give myself proper time and space to write.

Almost a year to the day after his funeral, I got word that I had been shortlisted for my sixth poetry prize. I have travelled to other countries to share my work and seen my name on posters and trophies and in journals. It has been huge and life-changing.

Why did I wait so long to do this? What else am I holding on to, because I'm too busy doing other things or too scared of failing?

Candice said...

I have finally started to wake up early to enjoy meditation, yoga and/or reading. For the past eight years I have been waking up only when I had to and would immediately start taking care of my family's needs.

This effort to take care of myself first is having profound effects and I'm only on day twelve!

We have a peace lily in our home and it is the best house plant! Her leaves droop when she requires a drink of water and perk right up when water is received. More importantly, she blooms when the energy in our home is favorable.
When both my sons were babies (and very colicky, I might add) the flower disappeared for an entire year and until our extreme fatigue went away. Recently, there hasn't been a flower for the past two and a half years during which time we have built a house, moved three times, started a new job and started a new business. Last week, not one, but two flowers started to bud!

marinj said...

Trying to find something beautiful at this season of my life is hard for me to do since it is so much easier to focus on all the "unfairness" of life. But, even when life sucks, there is still so much to be thankful for and I will try to keep focusing on that. Something beautiful for me was snow in the deep south. I actually hate snow but I must admit it was calm, cozy, beautiful and peaceful and for the one evening that it lasted, all felt right with the world.

Jaime said...

I hope you feel better soon!

I left work early yesterday and I was beyond shocked to see that thermometer read 66 degrees! Spring is coming, and it is a glorious thing!

Marie said...

I hope you feel better Melina. My daughter is a recent college grad and just started her first real job yesterday. I was her first phone call after she was on her way home after her first day. She was so excited and it made me feel special that I was the first one she wanted to share that with. Daughters are hard when they are teens, but they grow into such lovely young women you are proud to call also, friend.

Monique said...

Hope you feel better soon. Flu is NO fun.

Something beautiful for me lately is rediscovering my husband. We have been married for over 14 years now and with life and two kiddos you forget why you married someone sometimes. We have made it a priority to find time for just us this year which started end of last month. We relived our very first date by attending a hockey game. We have also snuck some lunches in where we linger and just talk with no kids jumping in to interrupt. It is rediscovering my best friend and I am loving every minute of it.

Lisa said...

Something beautiful seemed a lot like a nightmare at first. I've been on the job hunt for 6 months and finally got a job offer. I turned it down. It was a position I knew I'd hate in a location I dislike and totally not in my field. But I almost felt like I needed to take it just to have a job, feel like I was worth something again. Only I realized I would be settling. I've worked too hard pursuing my dreams this far to settle now. That was my beautiful thing - the realization I deserved more. Great things don't come from settling. And my worth is certainly not determined by a job (or lack thereof). It's wonderful how beautiful a fresh mindset can be.

Hope you have a speedy recovery!

afdavis said...

I got my husband that same book for Christmas! Glad your dinner party came together :)

Anonymous said...

Something beautiful? It was my six year anniversary this year, and my husband and I were able to steal away and enjoy it with a little R&R in a cabin. Sitting in the hot tub watching snow fall with a roaring fire keeping the cabin warm and toasty with the my partner in crime...I don't think it gets much more beautiful than that!!

Danielle said...

I'm currently reading The Emerald Mile, as I have a trip through the Grand Canyon planned in August. Great book! David's birthday looked lovely! Also, Miss Anna looks lovely, as always, in that snowy picture. I took an amazing class from her last spring and wish I was doing the same this spring.

I'm heading up a huge gala/fundraiser for our local mountain bike club this Saturday. My feel good moment this week is that we're going to pull in over $100,000 and sell out all our seats. I feel so proud to be a part of something so big for our community!

QueenTage said...

Hmmm. Lovely for me was the other night during the beautiful snow (im part of the Texas snow crowd) the husband and I went across the street to our neighbor's, homemade some tumbleweed cookies, brewed a favorite coffee, and stayed until 2 am. We had a snowball fight, made snow angels, talked the guys into trying yoga forearm stands - hilarious, btw -, and played board games.

I've worked during the snow days for the last 3 years so it was extra lovely to finally get to enjoy it with the husband rather than the coworkers.

Anonymous said...

This is simple.
I am a white walls kinda gal. Not because I don't like color on my walls but because I'm too scared to change it. (If it ain't broke, don't fix it..am I right)? Anyways, I painted my living room navy yesterday. And I LOVE it. Crazy how something so simple made me feel so good. It's beautiful.

Keely said...

The power went out while I was making popcorn and cookies with my girls, so we lit candles and sipped our tea and talked about our Moms in the dark until the lights flicked back on and we could finish our baking and go to deliver sweets to the other village teachers.

Emily said...

A few years ago I quit teaching high school history because it was sucking the life out of me. I wasn't able to be the wife and mama I wanted to be because of that job, so I checked the "not returning" box when the time came.

Today, I teach preschool at the same center my own children attend, and it's magical. (Bar wiping butts and blowing noses ALL.DAY.LONG) It's Dr. Seuss Week, so beautiful comes in the form of 5 amazing days of not having to wear real clothes. Monday we wore our pajamas, today was silly socks, tomorrow is big hat day, Thursday is tacky day, and Friday, it all culminates in a Seuss character parade and cake. Cake is always beautiful.

Here's to cake and birthdays and kicking the flu's butt in record time!

Destiny C said...

These words: harsh, excessive, unfair. They are beautiful words! A strange choice for my beautiful thing, but those words pertain to the appeal letter my husband received from the union :) It was the most beautiful letter I've seen in a long time! I keep holding it and reading it and semi-obsessing over it. I should probably calm down.
You thanked us for reading but I'd like to thank you for writing. And I hope you're feeling better.

Unknown said...

I'm in awe of the 12,000 number! You rock! And a huge thumbs up for your amazing friend!

Little happy for us: our boy just moved from cub scout to boy scout. My heart is full. There's nothing like seeing your kids become proud of themselves. I could cry....over and over again.

Thank you for your perspective. And Happy Birthday Dave!

Emily said...

Love the mystery prize bonus donation! Hate the flu- My sympathies!!

2 beautiful things:
-we hiked up Rattlesnake Ridge this past sunny Sunday (it was busy. Yay active Seattle!) and when we reached the top we found the setup for a marriage proposal- the couple's loved ones (including a little guy holding roses!), and a photographer had all hiked up ahead of time and were waiting. A crowd of hikers had gathered to watch and it felt like a magical slice of the world.

-I have a really important interview on Friday morning and my boyfriend insists on driving me- even though the interview is across the city in rush hour traffic and he's on call. He's been particularly thoughtful and supportive with this dream of mine and that to me feels like a beautiful thing.

Susan said...

Something beautiful..being asked to offer a prayer for a woman in a coma as her family says goodbye for the last time. Such a privilege my job is.

Unknown said...

Sunday marked my first bike ride to Redhook brewery. On a crisp sunny Seattle spring day, 40 miles on a beautiful trail, with my lovely boyfriend, separated by a few different breweries, sipping delicious cold hoppy beverages. The day ended at Fremont brew around a large table with friends laughing and drinking for the last few hours of the weekend.

Karen said...

Had to look into what on earth a sensory deprivation chamber is all about. Because it sounded a bit scary, but after reading about it now I kinda really want to try one. Lo and behold a woman in my community is in the process of opening one in my neighborhood this spring! That's a beautiful thing!!

Kristin W said...

My beautiful was a college road trip with my 17 year old daughter. My days with her as a child are getting fewer and fewer. In September she will start the long, exciting, fun yet sometimes painful task of finding her way to who she is and will be. But this past weekend we drove 1200 miles, just the two of us. We laughed, ate junk food, and sang way too many pop songs on the radio.

My girl is a beautiful, smart and happy soul. She is more than I could have ever hoped for, and makes me smile daily. Peeking into what could be the next chapter of her life this past weekend is my beautiful thing. I am blessed.

Amanda said...

We all need a friend like Kelly! I have one and her name is Diana, and she is my beautiful this week.

Sian said...

Something beautiful. One of my best friends who is pregnant drove three hours to come stay for a few days because soon she wouldn't get to drive anywhere. We talked till late then in the morning made porridge with strawberries and raw honey. I told her about being anxious and friendships I was struggling with. She told me not to worry 'will people like me?' but to think 'are you worthy of my friendship?' She was like a reset button and a reminder of what real friendship looks like. When she was gone the kitchen table looked so empty and I had to remind myself to be happy that she was there even for a short while. She is my beautiful thing x

PV said...

On a very busy, cold Saturday last week I walked into our garage and heard a noise. When I went to investigate, there was a flutter and when it stopped there was a bird perched on the handlebars of my husband's mountain bike. I looked a little closer and realized that it was actually an OWL! To me, it was like an amazingly good omen of some kind that filled me with such joy. Owl are rare to see, but especially in our Suburban Detroit neighborhood. My peaceful place is in the middle of nature, on a wooded mountainside somewhere, so this experience was just so beautiful to me.

Sara said...

How about a row of new pens, an anatomy text book about to be cracked, a fresh stack of paper, a mug of coffee and all afternoon without any interruptions. ahhh. beauty! Glad your angel arrived and the birthday party was a success!

Kate said...

I don't know if this qualifies as 'beautiful' but I moved from AL to NY in November, away from everyone in the world that I know. It's been a tough transition and an even tougher winter (never. stops. snowing.). This past weekend, I got together with a childhood friend and we went skiing. It was so nice to 1. see a familiar face and 2. actually enjoy this winter for a day. It was a beautiful day on the mountain, with perfect skiing conditions and I'm so thankful we were both able to make the trek to the mountains!

PatsyAnne said...

Something beautiful - picking up my little granddaughter after kindergarten and having her climb into the car, hanging her little head over my shoulder and say, "I love you so much Gramma" - the soft beauty of her voice, the wisp of her breath on my neck.
I also went on Batman & Bruce's page and have shared it on my FB page asking everyone to donate $5 and share it with all their friends. I don't have that many FB friends but hopefully they will get a few donations.