The word "things" can be made to be so ugly. Especially in times such as ours when the notion of taking a shine to material goods is used as shorthand for those sorts of people who aren't as enlightened as we, those who haven't embraced the simple joys so much more appropriate to difficult times. (See also: my belief that people who want me to stop "coloring within the lines" really just want me to start coloring within their lines, or "why my acquisitive/religious/literary/residential/educational choices are more authentic and spiritually/economically/morally/environmentally/socially sound than yours".) Whatever. I don't much care. We've all got enough on our plates and surely enough to worry about without having to parse and/or footnote that which brings the joy, yes?
Today was a difficult day in the middle of a not-so-pleasant week in what just might turn out to be a year of notable disquiet. Do I dwell? No. Instead I visit my happy place, which is currently stocked with the following things:
1. OPI's "Baby It's Coal Outside"
2. The Hothouse Flowers
3. Pansies
4. Rose's Lime Juice
5. Pink glitter
6. The novels of Victoria Dahl, Jo Goodman and Sherry Thomas. Oh, and Georgette Heyer
7. Really thick ecru writing paper
8. Needlepoint pillows
9. Lemon oil
10. Rose Poivree
11. The Book of Common Prayer
12. Blackberry jam
13. Picking the first tomato
14. My monogram (MJW or MWJ in case you want to buy me something)
15. That I am the fifth generation to use "my" lusterware tea service
16. Filling Christmas stockings
17. Swimming laps
18. Folding laundry
19. That Nine West shoes fit me without having to try on
20. My friend Jen's taco dip
21. Pretty cocktail napkins
22. Almond paste
23. The way Brainiac and I hardly have to talk to have a conversation
24. Easter hats on little girls
25. My kids' love of crayons
26. Tea, iced or hot
27. My car's seat warmer
28. My old Laura Ashley catalogs
29. The picture of a German Shepherd that I drew in 7th grade
30. The idea of a brocade and velvet skirt I'd like to sew for myself
There. That's better. What's in your happy place?