For me, a great day starts out with a chuckle and ends with a hearty laugh. I had that day yesterday. It started when I went out to fill the bird feeders. The thermometer read a nice chilly 40 degrees. My cold hands caused me to spaz out (when’s the last time you used that phrase) and I dropped the cover to the Tupperware container of bird seed.
Well, that isn’t that big of a deal except the bird feeders are on the edge of a hill. A very steep hill. A hill with 75 stairs each way type of hill. I’ve started a new exercise regimen that involves going up and down them multiple times — so I know the exact number.
As I watched the plastic lid slide down the green groundcover to a place I couldn’t reach, I had to chuckle. My book club just finished reading “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed. There is a scene in her memoir where she takes off her hiking boots to rest her weary feet. One of the boots tips over and slides down into a ravine. Knowing that she cannot retrieve the lost boot, she heaves the other down the ravine as well. I’m not quite Cheryl Strayed, but I could relate.
Later that day, I attended a holiday party of old work friends. While I was eating dinner, this conversation happened:
“So Val, have you ever thought of working part-time. My son could use someone like you in his business.”
“Oh no.” I replied. “If I go back to work, I would like to do something philanthropic.”
“Well then, this is perfect, because my son has no money to pay you.”
If you know me, you know my laugh can be quite “out there.” If you can howl while you laugh, I think I was doing so.
Wishing you all a holiday season full of smiles, chuckles and howling laughter.
