“A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men.”
-Roald Dahl
Music, anyone? *open in a new tab*
It was one of those difficult days to think about what I was feeling grateful for – What’s even keeping me going today? I’d wondered. Once I had come home from my office I had immediately wanted to just lay down on the couch and play a phone game (Damn you, Vineyard Valley!) and Jonathan was trying to be supportive by giving me tough (but sweet) love. I’m pretty sure he knows by now when I’m going into my dissociation-mode after a particularly emotionally draining day at the office. When I’m properly nettled by things I will also be a major grouch (let’s have a moment of silence for Jon…).
J: “Can you please walk to the gas station and buy me a chocolate bar?”
C: “Why?” (*said begrudgingly… and probably with a double-chin happening while staring at my phone*)
J: “So we can make s’mores tonight on the porch!”
C: *grumbling noises and generally irritable vibes*
I did end up going to the nearby gas station to pick up chocolate and some marshmallows within the next 10 minutes… feeling like a teenager a parent had sent on an errand “for their own good” pretty much the whole way! However, I did begrudgingly admit to myself that the walk was lifting my spirits MUCH better than screen time ever could. I then walked a couple of blocks to the fireworks stand across from our little neighborhood to buy some sparklers, “pop-its” (did anyone else terrorize – or be terrorized by – siblings with those growing up?), and two other small fireworks. Once I had walked back home from my menial tasks, Jon was hard at work in the kitchen whipping up dinner. It hits a particular place in my heart when I come home to him making us dinner. 🙂 It’s a sense of relief and excitement I can’t always express well.
(Also… note the squiggles I drew because I can’t help but feel a little annoyed by the pile of dishes. CLEAN dishes… but still!)
Not pictured: the sautéed Swiss Chard from our garden that we also ate as a side dish. The basil is also from our garden! Yay. :}
Remember how I mentioned Jonathan is a lovely chef? Well, he’s also the type that doesn’t use recipes (unless baking). One of those wizards that can open the fridge and come up with a main and a side dish! Needless to say, I felt very grateful for the dinner he made for us this evening. Plus the funny side quest of him sending me out of the house to buy a chocolate bar! I have a sneaking suspicion he just wanted me out of the house, but did it in a sweet way… hmmm. It did help my mood though. 🙂
Post-dinner I whittled away upstairs finishing up some clinical notes and then we went on a lovely post-post-dinner stroll outside to admire the sunset. We live pretty close to the Bridger mountain range, so the sunsets in the summer here are awe-inspiring! Well, at least to me they are.
After we got home, it was time to get our little porch-sized fire going to make s’mores and enjoy the cool night air. After we were all done with our ‘calm shenanigans,’ we saw two deer cross the street by our house under the street light. There’s something special about seeing other critters up and about (that won’t think about eating me) at night time when everything has settled down and feels quiet. We did a small smackeral of stargazing while we were outside too! Montana summers really do feel special. Even if we’re not being the outdoorsiest of the outdoorsy camping all of the time – though I know Jon would love to go camping more!
I have accidentally created a monster with the “treat box” situation. Once I went inside to wash the sticky marshmallow off my hands she pretty much immediately went – plunk! – into her cardboard box to get treats! Ha! Of course I gave her some! The poor bean just had to stare at us eat our own treats for at least 10 minutes. … At least that’s the justification I’m giving. 😉
Nighttime is peaceful – for the most part – in our neck of the woods as well. We primarily hear crickets, punctuated by *loud* train whistles since we live close to the railroad. I remember being tucked into bed as a child hearing the distant sound of train whistles and my mother telling me she had always found the sound of trains to be romantic. Something about that has stuck with me, so I sometimes think of my mother and “old timey” romantic movies when I hear the train here.
(…It also appears I have a ghost hand! You can see the post through my hand!)
Well, time to call it a night! I was having a difficult time experiencing gratitude earlier in my day, but with the help of Jon, I was able to end the day on a good note. Thank goodness for supportive-partner-days, play, and summer sunsets.
I feel grateful for…
- … the lullaby of crickets.
- … childhood memories of train whistles and firework shenanigans.
- … s’mores.
- … knowing I can have a full belly every day.
- … being able to stargaze by stepping out of our door.
- … Jonathan – his patience, his cooking skills, his thoughtfulness, his nurturance.
- … deer wandering together in the night – and being able to catch a glimpse of them.
- … how quiet the world seems at midnight (the time it is as I’m finishing this).