Happy Today

Today I've made a decision to be happy. Let's face it, I am addicted to anxiety. Worrying about my son at college, my backlog of work, the never-ending household chores, my relationships with family, friends and acquaintances keeps me on the treadmill of anxiety. Just for right now, I'm stepping off the treadmill and declaring, "I'm happy."

I have a cushy job. Let's face it, how many people get to set their own hours, roll out of bed, and stroll into their office (in my jammies, if I want). So, maybe it's not my dream job. But it's valuable work.

I have a husband that still adores me after 20 years. Not every minute or even every day, but often enough, he looks at me with caring and desire. How lucky am I!

I have two amazing sons. My oldest is on a wonderful journey of self-discovery, is polite, handsome, smart and kind. My youngest shares his days with me and fills my world with his thoughts and ideas, bringing a unique perspective from his Asperger's mind.

I have a beautiful home with space and color and filled with the things that I love, and then some. I am very blessed to have plenty and enough again to share.

One of my very favorite things to do, play with color and texture, is fulfilled by my collection of fabrics. My younger son noticed me cutting scraps into strips and squares the other day and commented, "That makes you fell peaceful, doesn't it." You're darn right!

So, just for a few minutes, let me stop grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw, squinching my shoulders and forgetting to breathe. Right this minute, I am happy.

48 (Again)

Tomorrow is my birthday and I will be 48. Here's the weird thing - I've been telling people I'm 48 for months now, if not the whole year. Why? I can't really figure it out. Is it because 48 is a nice round number? Was 47 not good enough? Am I in a hurry to qualify for senior shopping days or a membership in AARP? Or is it because my mind is slipping and peri-menopause has me as scatterbrained as Gracie Allen? There are women older and wiser than I that tell me this mind-slippage will pass once I finish menopause. Looking at my elder female family members, I'm in some doubt about this.

I received a new book in the mail today. It's a thin volume, and I usually like a little more meat to my quilting books, but has everything one would want to know about easy cutting and piecing of freehand curves and numerous well-illustrated examples from the simplest 4-patch blocks to a more challenging fiber art version. I also like the suggestions on quilting designs and concise instructions for binding with mitered corners. There are no corners cut with this book. Now, if I can ever get finished preparing for this Saturday's garage sale, I can actually get some quilting done.

Me

This is me about three inches of hair ago. I now have a good three inches of white and brown hair growth that I'm working on. No photos for a while, please!