a good day

(Update 2:45 pm EST: Diarist.net awards reminder)

Sunday was an extraordinarily good day. It started with brunch at La Hacienda (640 Queen St W) with Jeff, Parki, Lindsay and Wendy. The morning sun slanted in the front windows in just the right way to give everything an ethereal glow, nudging up the temperature so that we could almost forget the chill breeze outside and pretend it was early spring. Sweaters were shed; so were our "heading into another long Canadian winter" blues, at least temporarily.

I ordered the Breakfast Burrito and a glass of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. Topics of conversation ranged from A Beautiful Mind (a movie we saw on the weekend and all enjoyed; Parki's lending me the book), Lindsay's and Wendy's house plans, the definition of art. I didn't participate as much as the others, partly because of my cough and partly because I was getting drowsy, lulled by the ebb and flow of conversation, the warmth of the sun in the restaurant.

I had a nap as soon as we got back; Jeff opted to go do work for a client, so I had the apartment to myself. Afternoon naps are a luxury I don't usually take during the work week unless I'm ill. When I do nap, I don't go for piddly 10-minute "power naps". My idea of a good nap consists of getting undressed and burying myself deep under the covers, shutting the blinds, taking the phone off the hook.



When I woke an hour later, I went to Parki's for a visit. Although I met Parki through Jeff, I like the fact that he and I have developed a friendship independent of the one that he and Jeff share...I think that's a pretty unusual thing, in terms of couple friendships. I sat in my favourite chair (in the world) and we had tea and just talked for a couple of hours until Jeff came to pick me up to go my sister's place for dinner.

We had our usual Sunday night dinner with my family. I can't remember when this tradition started...I think after my brother and his wife died. It began as a need to just be with each other, I think, to reaffirm the existence of the remaining family members. It's become much more than that now.

My favourite moment last night was dancing with Sara and Annie. Sara and I are going to see "Mamma Mia" together in the late spring (a birthday gift from my family); I bought her the CD soundtrack for Christmas. She and Annie already know all the words to three ABBA songs. :-)

Today's entry was written as part of an On Display collaboration. The topic is "What are you sure of?"

There's been a lot going on in my life these past couple of years, and there were times when I found it difficult to be sure of anything, even of myself. Happily, things have changed, and this was in no small part due to factors in my life that I've realized I can be sure of, both in myself and in others.

I've also learned that it's best not to over-analyze or second-guess, to focus on what's good and right in life and to not obsess over what isn't.

So last night as I danced with my young nieces in my sister's living room, I let myself give in to their pure, unhibited joy, delighting in the moment, looking forward to many more like it.

It was a good day. :-)

Diarist.net Awards:

I'm on the current Diarist.net Awards panel, and we've been asked to remind everyone that nominations for the awards close tomorrow.

If you know of a good journal or journal entry that deserves recognition, please do send in a nomination! Awards panel judges are not eligible for nominations, by the way (i.e. this is not a plea to be nominated :-)).

More info about the awards here.

Today's Blatherpics:

- The sunlight made everything much more interesting-looking at brunch yesterday; I felt compelled to take photos of some of things on our table.

- Like Jeff's bowl of latt|AMP|eacute;, for example. Several of the others were inspired by his latt|AMP|eacute; as well, so we passed my camera around.

- Lindsay, Wendy, Parki, Jeff.

- Jeff and I passed this sign after brunch; I thought the name was funny.

- Annie and Sara, dancing in their living room to the soundtrack of "Mamma Mia".