The Best Things (the best things)

Jamie, my youngest daughter is a hyperbolist, and by that I mean she has infected me with an appreciation for life that leads me to report to her and others who would understand, on the occasions when "I am having the time of my life", or "the best day of my life". She began reporting in this way and I love the mind expanding thought that one can experience these events with astonishing regularity. Debunking the myth that 'the best' is rare, reserved for the few (heck, the one) and even unattainable by the ordinary person.

Yesterday was quite the opposite for at least several hours, actually while I was preparing food for friends who were coming that evening for a birthday party. The misery had nothing to do with the impending party and I tried to quell my anxiety each time I added a new ingredient into my banquet of dishes because the Macrobotics say that what ever you are feeling when you are cooking will ultimately end up in the food and you will know this by the direction the conversation takes after the meal. As far as I could tell I didn't infect my guests with my personal disturbances. And actually after the meal, whether it was them or my own efforts to cook with antivenom, I was feeling much better which led to today becoming "the time of my life".

It started out with the daily walk to the mailbox with Patty my 16 year old spry, faithful, curley, four legged companion. And by daily I mean on the days when we fit it in. I had to walk off my party food to prepare for the next "best thing of the day", the most delightful brunch invitation from two dear cousins. It was such a lovely occasion full of substance, and caring. These cousins are real treasures, inspiring in their efforts to lead a balanced life as well as their genuine interest in the welfare of others. They have been faced with some big "what ifs?" and emerged choosing to be in charge of making life full of the important things. Our meal at an upscale buffet allowed us to engage in a common favorite activity while catering to our individual tastes of the moment (for me today was about blintzes, pizza, pancakes and bacon but not a single shrimp, next time it may be a ton of shrimp, pineapple, or eggs benedict but always the little slices of wood oven pizza).

My TMLQ (time of my life quotient) was vastly expandied by the time they dropped me off at around 2:00 and it didn't quit. I am indebted to the invention of the telephone and relieved that we have a great rate on long distance service because by this miraculous employment of unseen forces I was able to completely transform the misunderstanding that was the source of yesterday's despair. First with King who is retooling and launching new capacities to communicate his experience to me and generously trying to understand mine. And then with Erin who I needed to check in with over what my role should be to be her best MOM (mom of the moment). How much interest in her odyssey is wanted, and when does it feel like intrusion? Wow what a lot to get settled in the space of one TML day!

Switching to the other ear (we're talking a couple of hours of satisfying unsnarling) my fingers sped over the key pad to conjure up Jame. In a flash the key phrase announced another triumph for the ordinary person and a smile lit up her voice. We shared joys and accomplishments, with the same open honesty of the previous two calls -actually the tone set early in the day and parted with a plan to meet for lunch in the park next week with Ivy.

As I close I am renewed in the knowledge that I am the luckiest girl in the world and grateful for the fact that it is a title that can be held simultaneously by anyone (willing to call themselves a girl or amend it to read fellow), any where (with or without a phone), by the grace of that most confusing of words, and most precious of gifts, Love.