I’m marveling this Monday morning at the beautiful truth (though difficult at times to completely embrace, at least for me) on my new Mindful Moments Calendar for today, January 8.
This place where you are right now, God circled on a map for you.
Oh Goodness, Marveling this Morn!
CHRISTMAS GOOD MORNING!
Definitely marveling today.
Robert and I are up in Atlanta for a week celebrating our Seventh Wedding Anniversary.
We’re staying at a very cool Airbnb with a terrific view of the Atlanta skyline from our balcony.
Other than sitting on the balcony, we’ve seen a beautifully moving performance of A Christmas Carol at The Alliance Theatre …
God blessed us everyone!
And The Nutcracker at The Cobb Energy Center …
(Do you think at 71 I’m a bit too old to become a world-famous male ballet dancer?)
For our anniversary dinner, we went to the beautiful Atlanta Fish Market.
Afterwards, I went to the market section of the restaurant and bought HR a good-sized fish for our anniversary—and then had our picture taken in front of it before it was iced and wrapped to be taken home.
Tonight we head to The Atlanta Botanical Garden for their FABULOUS Garden Lights, Holiday Nights outdoor lights display.
Come and go with us! Help us celebrate 7.
Marveling at the Joy and Humor of accepting—even embracing—the truth that we are all Imperfect.
GIGGLE #1
So the other day I was in Kroger, minding my own business and heading down the refrigerated coffee creamer aisle toward the Nutpods. (TMI?) A slim pretty lady, dressed Lululemon-ishly in yoga pants and a cool form-fitting t-shirt flashing three big words, came barreling toward me, with phone in hand feverishly texting her husband to remind him of their luncheon date at the club. Okay, I made up that last part, but I am NOT making up what happened next.
Continuing her multitask walk/jog/text exercise routine, Fit Lady, with head down, slammed directly into me before I had the common sense to skulk* against the butter.
*skulk: “to get out of sight, typically with a cowardly motive.”
To her credit. Lulu, clearly embarrassed, profusely apologized, then made her way toward the organic, gluten-free, goat’s milk yogurt. Okay, I made up that last part again.
But I’m not making up the three words on the front of her T-shirt: “BE HERE NOW.”
GIGGLE #2
The other day, Robert and I sashayed into Whole Foods, he detouring just past the entrance to look at the flowers, while I glanced at the featured items front and center.
But before I tell you what I saw, let me remind you of part of the Whole Foods mission statement:
Here’s what I saw.
“Homemade whipped cream!” I gasped. “I bet that’s better than Cool Whip.”
Excited far beyond a normal range, I leaned in a little closer.
“Wait, what does that say in the fine print?” I asked myself with growing concern.
I hustled HR away from the sunflowers and hydrangea blooms, and we both stood there, giggling imperfectly in the front of “Whole” Foods.
So today, HR and I traversed twenty minutes to the Savannah Wildlife Refuge across the Savannah River from us over in South Carolina.
The purpose: For Robert to complete his homework for a course we are taking on Georgia’s Ossabaw Island and the concept of Wildness. We had to go to a Place, sit for a While, and observe the Wild, in whatever way we describe the word.
(I had already completed my assignment earlier this morning, meditating by the Savannah River itself, a couple of blocks from where we live in Savannah’s historic district …
… but more about that in a later post.)
(Now you have something to look forward to.)
Anyhoo, HR suggested we have a little picnic there, before his meditation, even though the temperature was supposed to be in the LOW 90s. Ever the accommodating spouse, after fussing a little bit, I agreed. Why? Curry chicken gyros – spicy! From Savannah’s iconic little Mediterranean Al Salaam Deli.
Oh my goodness! If I could, I would teleport a bite over to you.
It never takes a lot to grab my attention. But if you put a pine tree in the mix, I am FASCINATED. Years ago, after reading nature writer Janisse Ray’s Ecology of a Cracker Childhood (read it if you haven’t!), Robert and I fell in love with the Longleaf Pine.
So, before I even started to eat my curry gyro, I spotted some tall, majestic pine trees all around us.
And what did I do?
I looked up, of course, wondering if they were Longleaf. Wouldn’t you?
(I will never forgive Robert for taking that ridiculous picture of me, without me knowing he was doing so, but since it works for this blog post, I’m going to use it. Don’t tell him.)
Alas, the pine trees were not Longleaf. I suspected as much. The pine cones were too small and the trees, majestic as they were, did not have Longleaf’s candelabra-like upward branches. (TMI?)
Later on a solo hike (HR was “meditating.” remember), I saw this:
Loblolly somehow intuited that I preferred the Longleaf. He asked me why. Having no real answer, I did the only thing I thought to do. I looked up. Up into his Heights.
And he said …
Loblolly is now a close second in my favorite pine tree cataloging.
I’m bouncing with joy at summer’s beginning today.
The “Jumping Pillow” at Sunny Day Farms, Louisville, GA
HR is jumping too!
Marveling at the simple Breakfast Beauty of Beans and Franks.
From start to finish.
“Pretty” Good
I hope you find something Marvelous this Monday Morning.
So last night, I looked in the pantry and saw one lonely sweet potato.
A bit of butter and a sprinkling of dark brown sugar—then five minutes later our humble abode sprang to joyful and deliciously aromatic life.
I can still smell the sweet potato life this morn.
Simple marvels.
An early dogwood tree around the corner from us …
We snatched a small branch.
NealEnJoy 