restingmotion

Bright and Shiny Things

Last week I bought a pair of Birkenstocks.  Nothing remarkable at all. Or is it? Remarkable that is?

 

I had purchased some Birks years ago and hated them.  They made my feet hurt.  Worse, they made my back hurt, hurt for days after I wore them.  I assumed it was just me, just my back, and I abandoned all hope of wearing them despite having many friends who swear by their comfort, support, and all-around practicality.

 

Ends up it was my back, it was the growing herniated disk in my low back that I (successfully?) managed to ignore for years, until it plastered me flat on my back for two months before my back surgery last year.  It seems there were many things that were due to my back, but not in the way I initially believed.  There also may have been some internal struggle between my comfortable, baggy-jeans-at-home, self and my urban, designer-clad, insecurity-driven self reflected in that initial rejection of Birkenstocks, but then it is amazing what a couple of months of immobility followed by a new chance at life will resolve.

 

I first saw these bright shiny reflective Birkenstocks in Dillards when my mom was here and I looked at them and dismissed them.  My thoughts went something along the lines of:

 Oooh, Pretty.....

Can't wear them, remember my back hurt?

But, pretty....

Too bright, too shiny......

But pretty......

Reflective too, way too much happening on those shoes.....

Leave now...

Sigh, so pretty.....

 .

I was back in Dillards last week, refreshing a few supplies from the cosmetics department, when I happened to walk past those same shiny shoes.  I remembered that there are quite a few things I used to not be able to do that I can now, now that my back is better, and I thought it couldn't hurt to try them on. So I did, and they were phenomenally comfortable in the store, and pretty, and very very shiny. Not surprisingly, they came home with me.

 

I wore them most of the day yesterday, and I loved wearing them.  Their shiny pinkness made me smile. They are far and away the brightest, shiniest things I own, and yet that doesn't matter. Shiny Pink Birkies. Who knew? 

Yellow Flowers and Dreams of Sunshine

These Flowers came Friday.

See, no matter what the weather is doing outside, I have my own sunshine right here on my dining table. Today is my 57th birthday and I embrace it.  My gift to myself is to allow myself to lose myself, and for now, that means that I am finally setting up the sewing room.  I couldn't be happier.

 

On a completely irrelevant aside, when people wish me happy birthday, I always want to say "and Happy Birthday to you, too" which is kind of silly, because it is not their birthday.  But it could be. Granted we are only born on one day, and the anniversary of that birth is well worth celebrating, but it  in our minds and hearts we carry the potential for everyday to be a new birthday, a new day, a new birth, and a day where we carry our own sunshine with us.

 

And so. Happy Birthday to all of you, from me.  I'd like to share the joy, share in the celebration of life, and I hope that some new sunshine is born in each of your hearts and lives today.

 

 

 

Happy 4th of July

This is a re-posting of my July 4th 2012 post, with minor revisions.  

I love the 4th of July.  I love the parades and the fireworks, the campfires, fired up grills, and the happy spirit of people gathered in town squares and lawns.  At its best this holiday honors people at their communal best, of what brought this country together and what makes us great.  

 

On the Fourth of July it seems that all our bickering should be put aside and we should just celebrate how lucky we are, or at least have a piece of pie, some ice cream, or a snow cone.

 

Although my original plans for today were washed out, weather permitting, I hope to meet some friends downtown, enjoy a concert, and see some fireworks.

 

Hope you have a lovely 4th!

In My Neighborhood This Week

Three photos from my morning walks:

And one from the evening, shortly before sunset.  The play of evening light on the clouds has been beautiful this week, but capturing it is beyond my abilities.  Perhaps another learning project awaits.