Yesterday and Today

Reprieve---Mimi went to MS for the weekend. We miss her, but are also enjoying a different pace.
This morning, rather than continue to put him off to fold clothes, I took a break and threw the football with Tucker. The sun was bright, and he got beaned in the head with a missed pass. Even though he is such an almost-tween, he came to me and just let me hold him until he felt better. He is the perfect height right now so that I can rest my chin on his head when hugging him. It was a delicious in-the-moment moment.

Briefly

I woke up early to feed the cats. Already had plans to go in to work early to prep for a training session I was conducting. Fell back asleep on the couch with anxiety coursing through my body and had one of those really disturbing dreams that takes you a minute to realize didn't happen.
Got through the training and took some time before my next meeting to breathe deeply and meditate. Set the afternoon on a new course.

All of This Before 9:00 (a.m.)

Quick Reads
Rainy Saturdays
Warm Pots of Coffee
Cancelled Plans
Memories Found
Time to Breathe

And Then There is Something So Blatantly Obvious For Which to be Thankful.

As I merged onto the highway, I noticed that traffic on the other side of the road seemed backed up. Must have been a wreck going the other direction. It was getting dark, and I could have sped up, but the truck coming up was not going to yield, so I waited and got behind him.

So thankful that I did.

Maybe a hundred yards later (IDK, I'm terrible at estimating distance), I saw the white car in front of him pop into the left lane. It had either had a tire blow out or been hit. I was able to stop, but it was one of those where you pray that the people behind you get the message in time.

So thankful that they did.

I'm not sure if the truck in front of me hit the white car, but if not he missed it by inches. Merritt and I sat there for over an hour as the police arrived and worked the scene. We watched a woman get triaged and taken to the hospital by ambulance (she was walking around, so I feel like she is okay) and we saw the tow truck load up a car.

Seven cars were involved in the accident.

So thankful that it wasn't us. Our Guardian Angel was definitely in the car today.

Oh, I Have To Do It Again?

I had an out of body experience yesterday. It was weird. The girls and I were in the car, driving up to the flag football game (the boys were already there for warmups). Lauren had her CD playing an unfamiliar song. I think that is what threw me off--I had no connection to the song. It was a feeling of deja vu, but like I was watching it from somewhere else. Bizarre.

The time change is impacting me, as per usual. Also, this gloomy weather is taking a toll. It may be more endearing if it were chilly, or crisp. Instead it is muggy and I feel sticky by the time I get to work.

This post sounds like complaints, but to the keen observer it is actually an appreciation for the minutiae of the day. Being present to observe and understand the things that are unpleasant, so that better times can be seen in their moments.

I See Your Game, and Raise You a Haiku

November brings with it the habit of attempting to blog each day about gratitude. Here it goes.
I begin this month thankful for new notebooks. I have never been a committed diarist, feeling like a failure if I missed a day or didn't adhere to a strict format. It has taken me 37 years to just keep a simple and small notebook on me at all times, doodling, quoting, and working out small and large feelings on paper. It is not so much a detail of my day as it is a random thought that I have to put on paper to get it out of my brain. When I happen to go back through and read, it is full of raw, unrefined emotion.

At any rate, I bought this one in a back-to-school clearance sale, and I am going to abandon my mostly full notebook for this gorgeous girl.

New notebook is full
Possibility and space
Opportunities

Is there anything more delicious than a rudely carved pumpkin? We have had wet weather for the last couple of days, and the grey skies, (slightly) cooling temps, and carpeting of leaves are bringing out my holiday spirit. Andy visited the Publix pumpkin patch today, and I dove right in. Mimi and I made quick work out of scooping out the first one. She directed the shapes for the face. After seeing the completed work, Tucker drew his design out for me to carve. Lauren has elected to wait and paint her pumpkin. And that is cool, but for me, the first fiery glow from a crooked jack o'lantern smile makes me want to curl up under some covers and watch a scary show, which tonight means the GOP debate. Spooky.