Frozen Hair and Sunsets
I’ll start with my Gratitude Entries…
November 19th: The sun is shining brightly and touching only the tops of the trees. The trees are covered with frost and snow. Below the sunlight, the trees are gray and white, but at the top, the frost is a pale gold. It’s absolutely stunning! Today I am thankful that, every day, mother nature creates a new painting for me outside my sliding glass doors. I am also thankful for a heated home, as the temperature outside hovers at -22F.
November 20th: Today I am thankful that there is laughter in my life. This morning, Steve and I had a laugh while he made breakfast. Then we watched a short video that a friend linked to - about a cat and a printer, and we both laughed again. Then Airborne climbed up on the windowsill and stretched out really tall to reach the hanging plant there, but lost her footing and fell. She scared herself and went tearing up the stairs meowing deeply. Again… laughter. It’s a good sound, and it feels good too. Laughter is the best medicine. A day that starts off with laughter is bound to be a good day.
November 21st: Today I am thankful for early morning silence. I almost always get up before Steve does (when he’s not working), and it’s not always due to insomnia. I have always been an early riser. The alone time I have before the rest of the house gets up is precious to me. When my boys were little, I’d set my alarm to give myself an extra 30 minutes in the morning before they got up for school. I’d have a cup of coffee or tea, and read the paper. When they’d come bustling into the kitchen, I could meet them with a smile. When I was working, I’d get up 30 minutes before I had to for the same reason. I found I was more awake and ready to face the day with that extra time to myself in the morning. As I write this, the house is quiet and dark - except for the desk lamp next to me. I can smell the coffee brewing. While savoring a cup, I’ll read the paper - online. (I’m not going out to the paper box in this cold! *grin*) Good morning, world. Today is a new day, and I’m going to make it the best I can.
November 22nd: Today I am thankful for catching up with family. Steve spent quite a bit of time on the phone with his sister, Elaine (who we only get to talk to a couple of times a year). Now he’s on the phone with his half-sister Julie - who he hasn’t talked to in about 18 years! A couple of months ago, we were watching the show “The Locator“, and Steve told me he wished he could find his half sister and brothers - as he hasn’t talked to any of them in almost two decades. So I got to sleuthing on the internet (thank you, Google!) and - armed with a little bit of information about his sister’s career - I found an email address for her! She was out of work recuperating from surgery, and emailed us back yesterday. And as I type this, he is talking to her on the phone! I’m glad they were able to re-connect, and I hope they’ll stay in touch with each other.
