April 27, 2006
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Breathe Breathe
Pray Pray
Be Kind
Don't Grab
It's been a while since I listed my blessings. I'm thinking about my blessings because I'm thinking about the words I've typed above. Breathe, Pray, Be Kind, Don't Grab ... These words are on a small card that I've taped beside my mirror. I remember a time when I lived by a lot of rules, a lot of complicated rules that governed my behavior and made me feel beatific.
These days I'm living by fewer rules and paradoxically my life has grown larger as a result. I'm happier. And I want to express my appreciation for the happiest moments. The boys and I have been doing that formally, on Sunday afternoons when we have our family meeting (we tried doing it twice a week, but most weeks we discover that after work and school we barely like ourselves, much less each other and as quickly as we can after dinner, homework, baths, bedtime stories and the mandatory attempt to rob me of the last shred of my sanity we part with relief to our separate corners of the apartment.) But on Sunday afternoons we come together and tell each other things that we like about each other and about the fact that we are a family together and it's good.
Today was not a good day at work. I'm tired and burnt out and the person at the top of our corporate ladder has achieved new heights in the area of draconian micromanagement. In addition to the handing down of rules that make it harder to do my job, we received an email today informing us that Memorial Day has been cancelled. We have had the schedule of paid holidays posted since December. Memorial Day is the first day of the six we were promised and many of us have made plans, some people have gone so far as to invite people over for barbeque or purchase plane tickets. Today we found out that the company has decided that the holiday will be cancelled and we will be open for business as usual.
I'm not sure who let the cat out of the bag, but our CEO got wind that there was a holiday on the books and that was the end of the party.
Which brings me back to blessings. See, sometimes things are really that bad. My mood is that foul and my outlook is that bleak, I must stop where I am and start naming things that bless me or I will have no choice but to say naughty things and perform strangely satisfying acts of corporate sabotage
Steps up to Microphone
<Ahem>
The List of Terri's Blessings
My Best Friend - can I brag? I have absolutely AWESOME friends. I don't deserve 'em. I'm not sure why they put up with me. And I'm neurotic enough that in the end, I don't really care that I don't deserve 'em - I'm keeping 'em and that's that.
Ringtones - I love ringtones. I love that I have a phone that does a different ring for everyone who regularly calls me. My best friend's tone is Sarah MacLachlan singing "Your Love is Better than Ice Cream." This afternoon, in the blackest part of my irritability my pocket started singing that song. And I knew that I was getting that call because I'd already sent a text explaining that (to use theologically correct terminology) my day sucked. But as soon as I hear "Ice Cream" I'm smiling. So by the time I answer the phone I'm halfway back up to cheerful. And then hearing the voice of the person who knows me better than anyone AND loves me better than anyone, well, what bad day can top that?
Ice Cream - Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey - I rest my case.
Pajamas - I'm convinced that if Adam and Eve had skipped the attempt at figly fashion and been willing to settle for pajamas they wouldn't have been embarrassed to be seen by God and much ugliness through history could have been avoided. If I could go to work in my pajamas, I'd be a happy woman no matter what the corporate people said. How seriously can you take yourself or anyone else while you're wearing pajamas? Mine tonight are capri pants, white with a print of tropical flowers and pineapples. The top is mint green edged in lacy stitching and they have a happy blue daisy embroidered on the pocket.
Thong Underwear - somedays wearing a thong makes me feel sexy, some days it makes me feel silly, and some days it's just irritating, but wearing a thong makes me feel things. It makes me leave off the navel gazing for a moment because even I realize how absurd it is to know that in spite of the fact that I'm starting to look like someones soft round grandmother, I am wearing a thong.
Books on CD
Mary Kay Satin Hands treatment which is a fabulous thing to do for your feet.
Bubble baths
Blowing bubbles in the warm afternoon sun
Laugh lines
The smell of coffee
Yahoo Literati - in fact, I think I have enough energy to play a round and maybe even win. That would be another blessing to add to the list, right?
May the sight of something absurdly wonderful take you by surprise, make you smile, and give you a moment of peace in the midst of your evening.
Comments (6)
Well, I have many blessings to count, but they'd be hard to enjoy if I worked somewhere where the boss could cancel major holidays at the drop of a hat.
I have heard that Americans don't get too many of what we in Canada call statutory holidays -- the serious important carved-in-stone ones. I believe in Canada we have nine, and no matter what a jerk your boss is, they can't cancel them arbitrarily. Now, I'm not naive -- sometimes people are pressured into doing stuff they don't want just because they wanna be seen as a "team player" -- but even then the unfortunate victim of holiday-theft usually can get the day off moved to another day or added to their vacation, or perhaps get paid more for having to work when everyone else is off at the beach.
I bet your boss's karma doesn't bear contemplating. Perhaps he or she will come back as a termite... or a bedbug... or a pillbox millipede! *laugh*
If you catch me wearing thong underwear... I dunno. Write something funny, OK?
What a great read for 5:30 am as I start my day taking my son to the airport. Hey, I GET to take my son to the airport. I Get to see the sunrise! I get to see how the world works here as dawn breaks. Thanks for the attitude flip and the thoughts about why on earth a woman would wear a thong.
I love that you wear a thong. Now DON'T take that the wrong way
. I've never actually SEEN your thong; I just know it second hand. But if people who don't (thank goodness) look like the latest oversexed, underdressed, painted anorexic model on the runway wear thongs -- then something IS right with the world.
Huge hugs to you (very late) and thank you for providing a wonderful example.
My own current blessing is that I have 20 minutes to type undisturbed. Better put this to good use.......
I'm thankful for all those things too, well, except the Chunky Monkey ice cream... never had that... YET!
I hope that the person responsible for canceling Memorial Day understands that this will not win them a good bosses' day present come October... 'course you won't be there to help drive that point home since you've turned in your notice (may those last six words comfort you
).
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and wear your PJs as much as possible!
Hugs and prayers,
Debbie
Thanks again for joining us for lunch!!!
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