the joy is back

welcome again to the week in joy

It’s been a while! I have really missed consciously taking stock of the week and picking out the little joys that got me through. I appreciated your messages last week that you would be happy to see this column return so here we are. Let’s get right to it.

My hydrangeas surprised me this year and came back not only in full bloom, but they are crazy with color. Deep purple and coral pink and sky blue! Every morning at dawn I go out and just marvel at the flowers and all the new growth. I’ve written in the past about my connection with these flowers, and how much I love them. They don’t bloom every year; they are very finicky and dependent on mild winters. So I was extremely overjoyed to see how beautiful they are this year.

I got my very first pedicure this week. I know, I know. What took me so long? I’ve never been big on people touching my feet, and I think my feet are ugly, so I never bothered with a pedicure. But I decided I want to wear sandals this summer instead of wearing sneakers or flats all the time so I made the appointment. Well, am I glad I did that. It was absolutely the best 45 minutes of the week. Being pampered like that is not something I ever do for myself and I was in heaven. For my first time, I got a package that included a foot and calf massage (will *not* be spending that kind of money every two weeks). Later, after my toes were painted and they were drying, she massaged my neck and shoulders. I came out of there feeling like a million bucks not just because my feet looked pretty, but because I let myself be pampered like that. Something I need to do more often (sorry no pictures of my feet on the internet).

Yesterday, I did something so wide out of my comfort zone that I’m still astounded I did it. I drove from my house on Long Island to Astoria, Queens to have brunch with an internet friend I’d never met before and her wife. I have a great deal of anxiety about both meeting new people and driving to unfamiliar places by myself and I have to say, I am very proud of me for doing this. I had a wonderful time, the company was awesome and the shrimp and grits were amazing. The traffic on the Grand Central, not so much.

Almost two months ago I ordered this mug from a fly by night company in China and hoped for the best (they are a ripoff of Hallmark mugs that you can’t get anywhere without breaking the bank). Imagine my surprise when it arrived in perfect condition. It’s crazy that a little coffee mug can bring me such joy but I smile every time I look at it.

There were other, quieter joys during the week. Looking at fireworks (but not hearing them til the wee hours of the morning), sleeping until 5am (i’ve been getting up at 3am), sugar free popsicles (my diabetes friendly treats), another trip to Rhode Island, and hey, Reilly turned one this week!

I hope you all had a fabulous week, and that the week ahead holds good things for you. So happy to be back doing this!