I Wonder . . .

if the day after a party/ celebration is required to be gray, windy, dull or if it just seems that way because it's not party day, full of surprises and bright colors. I had the pleasure of having Cesar hang after the other technicians left to do their work - his first job wasn't very early. We talked of loved ones taken captive by too much Budweiser for too many decades and new loves, old loves, loves that just seem to be part of our personal tapestry even when we try to dry clean them out and our own personal smallness (how limited and just so human we are) . . . he's just radioed in from an emergency same-day-service add-on: a man about 80 whose wife has been admitted to the hospital this morning, but on her way there, had an accident on the carpet in the bedroom. "Limes, this is a sad case. He wants to get to the hospital to be with his wife, but he wants the carpet clean when she comes home. I'm tossing in some extra TLC and not charging him for it. Are you good with that?" Well, yes. That's a kindness we can do. It truly feels good to help out a person who asked for nothing free, but who obviously needs a kindness.

My day started too early. As always, I walked a zillion miles in wind and warm air (except when I walk in wind and frigid air). I'm mastering the Garmin and the heart monitor and that didn't take very long. Mother Badger reminded me yesterday in frequent e-mails that I'm a rather worthy person who can learn to do things quickly and well. That may be true.

The Badger would be about half-way through his 4 hour ride up and back down Mt. Charleston about now. I should add that the climb up Mt. Charleston challenges my Nissan when we drive there to dine at the lodge.

So ~ here I go. The phones are quiet. In the fridge awaits the cucumbers I eat every day of life at 10:00 a.m. And next to them are the cake, the dogs, the burgers, the potato salad . . . never mind.

The Bible just arrived via Mailman Steve. He noticed that I was pretty excited and asked if he'd just brought me money. "No," I said, "you brought me the lessons I need to do something that will give me self-respect." I told him of my plan to walk the marathon and his eyes kind of popped. "Aren't you about my age?" "No, Steve, probably older." "I couldn't do that," he said. And he walks postal routes day after day for probably 25 years. The Bible is a shorter book than I might have thought. I can probably read it cover to cover tonight. A quick blow through all the information and then I'll take it slowly to take it in deeply.

In my ears right now: Precious Stones - it's way out there and will require a complete posting of its own. But I promise it's the good goods. I like it because it's quirky and twisted.

Something that charmed me today: We keep a whiteboard in the office upon which anyone may write any words that they'd like to share. In David's handwriting is a quote I like very much, "Our favorite attitude should be gratitude."