Friday Night Nirvana

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Besides working 9-5 Mon to Fri, I've spent my last 3 weekends finishing the books and preparing the financial statements for the art gallery I work for. As well, I've had a head cold, chest congestion and and a killer cough that's allowed me roughly 4 hr of sleep a night for the past week. Monday past, I had to drive to the airport late in the evening to pick up my newest international child, a lovely little Korean girl who hardly speaks or understands English. (Challenging!) It's been rugged! I've been on automatic pilot, and it's been a mind-numbing trudge through the ordinary and the necessary.

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But I'm back! And even though I haven't regained full health, tonight I had a nirvana experience. It was simple and didn't cost me a penny.

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I got home from work today, had dinner, and watched a little TV. And then - suddenly - I realized that it was Friday night! This was the weekend! And I was beginning to feel better! And I didn't have to work!

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Oh, the joy -- the bliss!

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So, I poured a large hot bath, with lavender scented olive oil and lavender scented bubble bath (to double my convalescant pleasure). I put on a relaxing CD, and picked up the "fluffy-stuff" novel I'd been reading a few weeks ago. Then I lowered myself into the bathtub and lost myself for half an hour as I ran and danced in 1950's London with Penelope and Claire. The water temperature was perfect, and I gloried in the fact that I could stretch and flex and then relax every muscle in my body -- even my right foot. While I was reading, I'd periodically get a glorious whiff of my pineapple soap or Lemon Verbena hair shampoo; or I'd hear the sounds of ocean waves behind the soothing music. It was so wonderful!

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And at the end of bathtime when I put my book down and just luxuriated in warmth and scent, I was filled with happiness and peace. I spent some time with God, thanking Him for His goodness to me.

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Life's not perfect, huh? But with all that's happening in the world -- Libya and New Zealand; with the rush of every day life and our financial woes; with aging and health concerns; with raising kids, or the ones still living at home without jobs (or direction); with the high cost of cough syrup and the possibility of weight gain from the hundreds of throat lozanges that have been ingested lately;

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... isn't it simply marvelous to be momentarily in the "here and now"! to be aware of the little gifts that can be found around us, and to give yourself over to the bits of heaven that we can find in our everyday life -- the bits that are free and readily available.

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THIS my friends is living! THIS is life!

It may be rare ............ but ain't it grand!

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