It had been a really stressful week. Deadlines at the day job, negligible progress on the writing front, lack of sleep. I stumbled into the weekend hoping for just a modicum of respite.
Friday night, I ended up going out. It was fun, but it crimped my writing time, and I got to bed pretty late.
Saturday, I mowed the lawn, babysat my grand-nephew and -niece, and didn’t manage to get my daily quota of words in until just after midnight. I suppose the day was productive, and seeing the kids is always a joy . . . but it was hectic, too.
Then Sunday came. Many things were competing for my time, and I really, really wanted a day without an agenda. The wife, in her infinite wisdom and goodness, saw this, and let me have the day.
Well, to begin with, I had finally gotten a decent night’s sleep. And the weather was friggin’ gorgeous. It’s been unseasonably cool and rainy of late, but Sunday was sunny, with low humidity and temps in the seventies. What you might call a Chamber of Commerce Day.
I resolved to get my words in–the one thing I absolutely had to do. Only after that would I allow myself some fun time. And for a wonder, the words came in short order. Just getting that done did wonders for my mental state.
Then I went to the mall to spend my birthday money. Sounds like fun, right? Well, yeah, but . . .
Shopping for yourself, I have found, can be as stressful as shopping for someone else. You’re on a budget, so you want to maximize value, yet you want to get something cool, something sufficiently special. I have been known to spend hours wandering stores, head spinning in a maelstrom of uncertainty and indecision, growing ever more frustrated because nothing looks good, or too many things look good, and finally settling on some compromise solution that leaves me vaguely dissatisfied. And all of this was supposed to be a treat for me.
Buoyed by my positive writing session, I went to the task at hand with an upbeat attitude. If my selections were going to take a while, at least I had good weather for it.
First up was a stop at Borders to spend a gift card. I picked up Jay Lake’s Green, which I had been meaning to do. But I still had money left over. Only a minute or two later, though, I spotted a copy of Dan Simmons’s Drood, and that settled the matter. Those two books, coupled with a 25% off coupon, were enough to use up the gift card, plus an extra three dollars. Perfect.
I put my purchases in my car, then walked over to Best Buy. I perused the Blu-Ray section without much hope; most of the titles are still a tad more pricey than I prefer. But then I spotted something interesting: a two-pack featuring Silence of the Lambs and Donnie Darko for only $26.99. I did a double take. That couldn’t be right, could it? Two good movies, certainly worthy of Blu-Ray presentation, for a mere $13.50 apiece? Yep, snatched it up. Then, I wandered over to the CDs–but my eye was drawn to the concert videos, a weakness of mine. And what did I happen to see there but a vintage Rainbow concert from 1977. And I figured, what the hell, it’s my birthday money, so I bought it, too.
So. My shopping mission accomplished with surprising ease, I found myself with a little extra time. Since it was such a gorgeous day, I decided to take a leisurely stroll around the Shadow Lake Shopping Center, which, truth to tell, is a pretty place. I settled on a bench near some fountains and, in my best Sheryl Crow fashion, soaked up the sun. As the PA system played the Fleetwood Mac’s "Landslide," I watched some children playing, also enjoying the pleasant weather, and had time to reflect on just how wonderful it is to be alive, in relative good health, and living in a country still prosperous despite the recent economic setbacks. It all might disappear tomorrow, but for one day, at least, I was able to acknowledge and appreciate how well off I really am. All the problems and pressures in my life faded to insignificance.
I nearly wept with joy. Seriously.
Shortly thereafter, the wife called to inform me she was on her way home from her own day out, and that she was bringing me some dinner. How perfect was that?
The moment passed, but the peace remained. I headed home, back to my good, good life.
Just thought that needed saying.
