Bullet style…
- The day started at 12:01 am as I couldn’t sleep
- I drapsed myself in a sheet and nothing else (oh the heat!), sat in the old Mennonite rocking chair by the patio door and began knitting, stitch by stitch, click after click and it felt good (minus the heat!)
- I listened to the muslim neighbours pray & share a meal for Ramadan, the sounds of laughter and joy warmed my heart
- I watched the Canadian Pacific Railway shoot through the garden at a thunderous speed, it is so wide and big and I thought about all those thousands of people who worked on that railway in weather like this, helping build this great nation.
- After a while I began reading and enjoying the power of a praying woman, remembering the peace & freedom I felt late last eve when the rain fell on my face after a much needed night out in the hot city; some big philosophical life questions were answered (divine inspiration) and I felt peace & calmness that surpasses all understanding!
- Next I planned my menu for the week and today I’m making a meal for the first time since I’ve been here – fresh corn, cabbage & fusilli salad, arugula/rocket & blueberry salad, chili eggplant and blueberry creme brulee for dessert (summer style aka no cooking!)
- All the menu planning made me hungry, so at 4:30 I enjoyed breakfast – cesar salad with avocado & blueberries with a blueberry muffin. It was good. Who said one needs so called breakfast foods?
- When my tummy was full I began writting my book, the very first chapter…
- Eventually I was lost in this and fell asleep around 5
- To be awoken at 6:30 when I promptly decided I was going to spend the day o-soul-o, popular decision or not. I then fell back asleep.
- By 7:20 I was up and running late for the cathedral where I wanted to worship o-soul-o. It was so beautiful and worth walking in 15 minutes late and being stared at. I sat next to a work of art donated from Yorkshire, England (divine intervention perhaps?)
- Then I strolled home, through the park where squirrels were fat and friendly, a tad overfriendly was one. But the less said about that the better…
- I planned what I would do if someone gave me $100 to spend on the street’s independent shops. I decided I would peruse through the independent book shop & pick up a book or two, before making my way to the ethical shop and finding something beautiful. Next I would enjoy a meal at a cute little restaurant, I think I would pick blueberry pancakes with Canadian maple syrup, followed by a frozen yogurt from the creamery. Oh what an adventure it would be, friendly & fat squirrels chasing me and all…(!)
- To escape the 123 degree heat, I ventured through an air conditioned market and bought ingredients like fresh parsley.
- It began to rain and I thanked God for that little confirmation of my epiphenal moment, worry about oppression gone. Freedom reigns.
- As temperatures reached 1 million degrees aka heat that could kill 199 degrees I made a break with the norm and went into a fast food restaurant for a large diet coke with extra ice. When it is 199 degrees and you have no air con at home and you’ve functioned on 2 hours sleep and still gone to Church, exceptions can be made.
- Arriving home I had this great idea to call my mum, in the end it was probably a bad choice, since she hung up on me (oooh mothers & daughters ’tis complicated!) but I will apologize by sending her this link to a picture which I swear is me (scroll down and see the girl with red & pink knitted socks on a chair). I know when my mum checks her email in 202 years the next month, she will smile and think it is me (more than 25 years ago); and that makes me happy! BTW she’s already rung to apologize, and that makes me happy! I apologized too and that made her happy! ['tis not so complicated really]
- Now I am listening to Vinyl Cafe, contemplating dying my hair red and fighting a strong desire to wear a pink sari. Just beacause they are beautiful and sometimes we all feel the need to surround ourselves with beauty.
- And minus the hangup, my o-soul-o day is one of beauty. In fact even the hang up was something to remember, who says raw emotions can’t be beautiful?
- And after a nap, I am going to go and put my feet in the earth watching the train roll on by, just because it’s beautiful…
How was your reclaimed simple Sunday? Was it beautiful too?
FT I don’t know if you really understand the beauty that is you. The way you put words together, highlight emotions, express your vulnerabilities and grace just to be honest move me to tears. You say so much without ever saying anything much and it does something to change me or challenge me in so many ways. I am so happy you are writing a book, I can’t wait to read it!
Thank you your words do so much for me!
I forgot to say the photographs you’ve selected are beautiful!
I know what you mean about Saris – gorgeous. Beautiful photos.
Comming out of hiding to say wow! Awesome entry in your blog. I love the emotion and rawness and where you find your beauty! I too am so happy you are writing a book, what is it about?? Please tell us more!
Love it!
I echo Jamie. Your way of writing is stunning. I wish I had the grace you do to accept my circumstances.
You make me want to be a better person and I say this from the funk of a rather severe depression.
Mother and daughter relationships are very difficult for most of us. I come here FT and feel like I can see clearly, thank you.
You are so special. There are no words.
Such a beautiful post, thank you for sharing your inner feelings, thoughts and private moments!
Beautiful post Frugal.
You seem to be in a good place right now.
My relationship with my mum is also a tricky one. I think it stems from the fact that
I didn’t turn out as she had hoped. Rather than going for the thatched cottage,
stockbroker husband, 2.5 children and Golden Labrador option, I went for volunteering,
turning my back on consumerism and being active in a developing county.
Mind you, I have given her two grandchildren….but both boys, lol.
I swear you’ll be turning blue soon (all those blueberrie). You as a little girl
looked soo cute. I had a Mum/I am a Mum. We can get incredibly emotional when we worry for the well being of our young-un’s or miss seeing them. It’s terrific that she rang you back the same day. Cherrie
OMG I loooooooove this so much!!!!! Tell us more about the book!!!
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