A Tad Scattered; A Tad Giddy; Life is Good

I’m feeling a bit scattered this afternoon. In part, because I’ve spent the last hour packing and trying on clothes, but also because it feels like there are exciting things around me right now.

I have a flight booked for an ungodly time of the morning tomorrow to take me to Texas where I will be attending Lifelines: A Story Circle Life Writing Retreat. I’m giddy with excitement on so many levels: I’m looking forward to learning from Christina Baldwin; I’m looking forward to seeing my Story Circle Sisters; I”m looking forward to warm weather and sandals and capri pants; I am looking forward to having time to write; and I am looking forward to solitude. The combination of these things, I am certain, will recharge, refresh, and inspire me.

I painted my toenails yesterday in preparation for wearing sandals this weekend (Can you hear me cheering!) and I discovered something. I can no longer see my toenails clearly. It’s true. I tried different pairs of reading glasses; I tried no glasses; nothing worked and my toes remained out of focus. What to do? Ask Gerry to help me by painting my toenails? Heaven forbid! So, I faked it and went ahead anyway. I have no idea what this mini-pedicure really looks like, but if you’re reading this and you are going to see me this weekend at the retreat, pay no attention to my feet.

I recently finished May Sarton’s Journal of Solitude. Reading this book was like coming home; Sarton echos many of the thoughts I often have of a need for solitude and that life doesn’t seem real unless I have that time alone on a regular basis. This is a book I will keep on my nightstand and read over again; I will share some quotes from it soon.

I opened my bag to pull out my lunch today and found that I had put a container of my dog’s dinner in there! Obviously preoccupied this morning, when I pulled their daily ration out of the freezer (I make their food from scratch.) instead of putting it in the fridge as I usually do, I put it in my tote bag for work! Gerry wondered if I would be waiting for him to give me a biscuit when he got home from work. Very funny, I told him.

Janna Qualman is going to be hosting a live chat with my favorite fiction author Jodi Picoult on Monday. Jodi has been my favorite author long before she started enjoying the success she is now. (And Janna is one of my favorite bloggers.) I have every book Jodi has written and have enjoyed reading every one of them. I’m happy for Janna that she is hosting this chat and looking forward to hearing what Jodi has to say.

A few more feel-good things in my life right now are:

• When I return home next week I will enjoy a single solitary day at home before returning to my job. Gerry will be at work so it will be an excellent time to digest what I will learn this weekend at the retreat.
• I’ll also be staring seeds for heirloom Brandywine tomatoes. I also have seeds for some gorgeous blue pansies that I’ll be starting. Oh…to get my fingers in dirt again!
• And, in seven or eight weeks I will be back in Calgary with my brilliant and beautiful grandchildren.

Really. How could one help but feeling a tad giddy this evening!