Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
Happy heart
This last weekend was a musical treat. Anytime I hear good music I am transported beyond my worries, outside of any anxieties, and generally led to a soul-fest of pure joy. The good feelings last well into the next few days and I am more open to those God moments that happen with regularity.
I also love getting photos of my grandsons. Usually there’s a little story that accompanies them, little anecdotes that make me smile or laugh out loud. The latest? I have a picture of Alexander, the younger boy, sitting on a big concrete turtle at a park. He is not alone on the turtle, either. There is a little girl behind him with her arms around his neck. The little girl has a huge smile. Alexander’s expression is priceless – he looks like the cat that swallowed the canary, or like someone who has it all figured out. Apparently he is of interest to his companion in the picture. They run into each others’ arms every morning. According to Jackie there is another girl who loves him. She recently drew a picture of them – she in a princess dress and he in some sort of magician’s tuxedo. I absolutely support Jackie and Momoh’s rule about not putting pictures of the boys on any social media. My words don’t do the picture justice, but if you and I are together and you express the slightest interest in my grandsons I can whip out my phone faster than a cowboy draws a gun in a duel.
Jan gets home today from her odyssey to Naples, Florida. She had a good time visiting our friends Sandi and Reverend Diane. They are two of the most significant people that we met while living in Naples for those few years. Apparently they went to restaurants that we used to visit with regularity. One of them, the 360 Market, not only serves good food, they have a huge collection of good wines. I think there is a special bottle coming my way. In the meantime I am pleased with myself for having the house in good order, all the laundry done, and stocked with food that Jan relies on. The only one who might be a little miffed is Mollie, who has taken over Jan’s side of the bed and is in dog heaven as a result.
Yesterday as I was writing the blog I could tell that it was going to be a pretty, sunny day. I was going to meet my friend, Rif, for coffee at this great coffee shop in Maplewood. He introduced it to me last year and every six weeks or so we meet for early morning brew. Since I was already in a happy mood I made a snap decision to take the day off. That is as simple as sending my awesome boss an email with my decision, knowing that she will be fine with it.
In the early morning hour yesterday I texted my daughter, bound for Los Angeles for a visit with Ted and Sarah as well as her Pomona College reunion. She was at LaGuardia waiting to board. Her only worry was that she would get lost in LA while driving a rental car from the Ontario airport to Ted’s apartment. He offered to come get her, but LA to Ontario is a little trek and she needed a car anyway. The three of them will spend a couple of days together and that prospect really makes my heart happy. Last night Jackie sent me a “proof of life” selfie and I know it’s ok to post this picture. So many blessings…