Day 25

The Peaceable Kingdom. This afternoon as I watched my husband doze on the couch and the twins playing quietly on the floor, I thought about how we crave peace in our homes as well as in the world. For us, a people who spend much of our time at war and in anger, this may not feasible, but perhaps if we string all of these precious moments together, we may get a glimpse of this paradise.

S.O.S

If you have read my posts in the last week, you know that I have twice tried to adopt a stray cat but cannot do so due to my son's allergies and asthma. This cat is a small male with grey and light yellow  tiger striping and has just about the most loving personality I've ever seen in a cat. He purrs loudly when any human approaches and just wants to be loved. Every day I walk to and from my mom's house and pass this cat. Every day my hearts breaks for him. He desperately wants to be loved. Please - although I know no one ever responds to me - won't someone take him?

Day 24

Friendship. It finds us in the most unlikely places. A kind word in a doctor's office. A smile across the grocery carts lanes. An unknown driver who waves as he passes by. We all need human connections. To quote John Donne, "No man is an island". Innately, we crave companionship, acknowledgement and compassion. We seek to be understood and reach out to be touched. Today, as strangers extended courtesy, I thought about how important it is we reciprocate and pay forward their kindness. Imagine, if instead of a scowl, we greeted with a smile, how much happier a place this world would be.

Day 23

Calm after the storm. For the last two days I have been off. Yesterday, I took my children to the pool, only to discover I had forgotten my bathing suit at home. Last night, I tried to adopt a stray cat (for the second time). I bathed it, dried it, brushed it and gave it flea medicine, only to face the horrible realization that I couldn't keep it due to my son's asthma and allergies. Today, I was terribly short with my children (numerous times) for no other reason than I was just out of sorts. All day long I searched for that kernel of happiness, but it just seemed to elude me. Finally, thankfully, my day turned around and I was able to laugh at the absurdity of life when after bathing my children, my son went to the potty and said, "Wipe my ... Mom". Just another ordinary reminder that " .... happens!" and some times you just gotta roll with the punches.

Day 22

"Careful, careful," he said, feeling a splash of scalding tea on his wrist. "Passion is all very well, but it wouldn't do to spill the tea."- Major's Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
Should you need a book to truly lift your spirits, here it is. I just finished Major's Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. I borrowed it from that venerable institution called the library for my Mom, but when she was done with it, read it myself. It is properly one of the most well written, delightful novels I've read in years. Trust me- you'll be sorry when the last page appears! (If you are in my book club, you'd better hold off as it might be a future read.)

Week 4 Watercolours

Postponed due to Stomach Bug. Feel better soon, good friend!

Day 21

I love the written word and all of it's forms. Whether it be a poem, a novel, a witticism, or simply the daily musing of an everyday being, I find words which have been written down hold much power. For me, writing is a way of keeping my mind fresh and helping to direct my stream of consciousness. Throughout the day, I compose endless prose, much of which never comes to fruition in a concrete medium such as paper in a journal. Perhaps, though, writing is something more. It is a desire for immortality, for a part of our essential being, our thoughts, to be left to others. In my bedside stand, I keep a stack of old, blank postcards. On these, I write notes to my children, so that when they are older, they will know how much I loved them and thought of them. In my computer, I keep a file of stories I have written. I may never get any of these published, but they are part of my legacy. And in this blog, I write, not for the satisfaction of knowing that I have an audience, but for the world which does not know me. Each time I post an entry, I cast my words into the infinite carousal of humanity's thoughts and musings. My words may never come back to me, nor may they influence a single person, but they are my own. They represent me and in them I find solace.

Day 20

Hooray! We're half way there .... or not! Because, of course, as I have discovered there are actually 46, not 40 days in Lent. Some people don't count Sundays, but to me, that's just cheating, so onward ...

Old movies. I love them and today I treated myself. Usually after I put the twins down for a nap, I settle down to work, but today I decided to opt out. Instead, I whipped up a batch of homemade banana chocolate chip muffins, brewed myself a pot of tea, hunkered down on the couch and watched a delightful old black and white movie. By the the time the twins awoke, I felt relaxed and refreshed. Everyone should do this every once and awhile. It was wonderful!

Day 19

I have a true love and passion for the diversity of people found on our planet. I love that I am married to a "foreigner" and that my children will grow up bilingual. I love to listen to husband's voice as he whispers sweet nothings into my ear in his own language and I love that two of my best friends are from far off lands. Today I celebrate the beauty of the people of this world and say, "As-Salamu Alaykum" - Peace be with you!