Friday morning when I last wrote seems like forever ago…but anyhow this past Friday night was a quiet one on the couch, catching up on our shows and with each other, much needed after me being away for a 7-day work trip then coming back to a week of “budget hell.” Saturday was low-key, most of it spent prepping for dinner with my sis and bro-in-law. One of my favorite things is entertaining friends at the house and when I get to do so at a relaxed pace, it’s even better. Usually I love cranking tunes while I do this, but Saturday I enjoyed some silence while I puttered around the kitchen. And while that recent work trip to Mexico was a completely stressful grind, at the same time I found plenty to appreciate about it (beyond making it home safely, namely cultural stuff)… so to “honor” that experience I planned a little fiesta, figuring we all could use some good food and fun…and we had both.
The rain wasn’t a factor Saturday at all. And because it was so gross out, I didn’t feel guilty keeping it on the down low indoors…absolutely zero pressure to get out there and ____________________.
Since I thought the weekend was supposed to be a(nother) total washout, when I came downstairs yesterday morning after a(nother) crappy night’s sleep, my steps were a touch heavy, in sync with my spirit.
But when I saw the sun shining through the windows at the top of the front door as I hit the halfway point of my descent, things immediately turned around. Sunshine does that for me. Especially when I’m not expecting it.
A bonus sunny Sunday? Yes, please.
So unexpected. The sun, shining yesterday. Made it all better.
I ran upstairs and grabbed my Rumpl (if you don’t know what that is and you like sitting outside when temps drop a bit, Google it), put it on like a cape, poured a coffee, and headed out back with my Sunday Globe. Happy place. Sheer bliss.
When I finished up out back, time was tight (Pats played at 1), but I wanted to steal a(nother) walk to the Esker because I know what good that place does for me (mind/heart/spirit/soul refresh). I challenged myself to walk it fast, and I did completing the 5.5-mile loop in 83 minutes (accompanied by a fantastic 80s playlist)…which had me home in just enough time to shower before kickoff, which I watched out back.
What a day.
The Pats played ok and led the whole game so when they coughed it up towards the end of the 4th quarter and the Bills capitalized to score and take the lead, I thought, “here we go again.” Then, in something that was nothing short of a miracle, the Patriots actually pulled it off, and snagged the W.
Surprise!
Nothing like a pleasant surprise. (Amirite? I feel like as we get older the pleasant surprises are fewer and the unpleasant surprises become more the norm.)
Woo-hoo!
Speaking of surprises, I was recently talking about this Pedestrian Pundit writing “project” and was asked how long I’d been doing it. Besides “kind of a while,” and “a couple of years” I couldn’t get more specific. Curious, I looked into it…and what I found is this—between now and when I write next week (on Tuesday), I’ll “celebrate” the Pundit’s third birthday. That makes this my 163rd post. For three years I’ve been cranking out these weekly updates, with two “extras”—one after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and the other when I needed to process all that I was feeling on this past 9/11.
It’s been an interesting run…I like being here with you (thank you for that, as always!), I like the chance to be thoughtfully creative (creatively thoughtful?), I like the discipline of the weekly schedule, and I like that the schedule accommodates my brain’s tendency to meander…though occasionally I do stop and wonder why I do it or where I’m heading with it…but then I just get back to typing, because I don’t need to know those things to enjoy this time together, and that’s really what this is all about.
Here I am.
And so it goes.
Have a great week.
Love you too.
Wow. Almost 3 years. Time flies while we are having fun. Happy to have you back safe and sound.