Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Simple Pleasure's When the World Can Suck

      What can any of us say on the state of the world right now that doesn't sound sad? My heart hurts for all those in peril due to  political turmoil, extreme weather, loss of  livelihood, and just struggling to cope. I am fortunate. None of these things directly impact me right now,. I have down days, but I have a loving family  to help pick me up. I gripe about the lack of rain and high temperatures, but I don't rely on the weather to make a living. My girls' are free to pursue education, career, buy  property, all the things denied to women in parts of the world. I don't even need to say more about Covid variants. Yeah, the world sort of sucks now. Or, does it? 

     It's people creating the mess, and people who can help each other get out of it. Even if we all just do small things, I am a firm believer of the cumulative impact that acts of good, kindness, environmentalism, volunteerism, and money directed to where needed, however small, can do. I also think we owe it to ourselves and everyone around us to keep finding the simple pleasures and joys each day. These are the reminders that there is good stuff all around us, and with collective acts of good, more can be found. So this post is dedicated to the people that make my life  good.

  1. I spent  a wonderful evening, that I think will be an annual outing, thrift shopping with my daughters. Both daughters will be taking photos of items they purchased so I'll have a separate post. I may have created a thrifting beast though with DD2-she was on fire finding things she just loved. DD1 and I being a bit more veteran in this department, helped her narrow down some of her selection to better quality items, or not to get almost duplicates of what she already has. She went beyond our challenge, but other than socks, shoes, and under garments, she may never shop retail again! 
  2. On DH's Thursday off, he, DD2, and I had a nice lunch outing and a wander to another local towns shops and river front. It's nice to get out of your own  back yard at times, even if close. I love this service station that kept it's old pumps, and has a couple classic vehicles alongside it. 

  3. We took a mid-shop break and stopped at the Indian grocer/take out shop. I bought DD2 curry for her spice kit, and lovely pitted dates for home. We shared a couple order of samosas and two vegan Indian dishes that I will not remember. We enjoyed outside on picnic tables before continuing our quest. They are the nicest  people who own and run this business. If you are ever in the East Metro of the twin cities, stop by Fresh India Grocery and Eatery. 
  4. I shared the wonderful Van Gogh immersive experience. It was twice as nice as it was a gift from and and attended with my daughter. 
  5. That same lovely daughter helped her younger sister weed through   stacks of clothes to pack much more judiciously. the real joy was listening to them laugh and joke with each other, and older daughter  trying to be firm about weeding down. Some Saturday, I will do a helicopter mom thing and purge her room-sorting and boxing up all these old clothes, and with hope, she will  donate all or at least most, when she is home in October. She has to-remember my  2-4 things purged for every 1 new item? Well after the thrift haul, she probably needs to purge 100 or more items! 
  6. Saturday was coolish for August-no complaints. It was good getting out for a longer walk with pup, and seeing more people out, kids bike riding, and our neighbors grandson riding his  uncles bike. He's a little cutey and it was a flash back to 15 years earlier to his uncle at that age, DD2's good friend as they grew up together. 
  7. We have eaten out so much in the last two weeks,  it was a joy making French toast and turkey bacon form my daughter, a request, before she moved back to school. Cooking for others who truly enjoy the effort makes me smile. 
  8. It was good to be back to work yesterday, and with no crisis issues! This is the second time in three years that I took two full weeks off in August, and I've determined these will work annually. Now if only we can travel again.
  9. I had a Mom's of Teens group meet-up last night. It was an OK showing, with nine, and we had a fun two hours. this one was arranged by one of the younger mom's who's oldest is about to leave for college as emotional support. It was good to hear her say my relaxed attitude made her feel more comfortable about her daughters departure. Well, after three kids, colleges in three different states and two countries, I should be unfazed. I hid that I still get anxious for my kids, even the 32 and 30 year old! 
  10. And last, it was pure pleasure to wake up to rain and winds, and a down right good soaking! Yes, it is going to creep back up to 87 and humid, and my flower pots took a beating with the wind, but we have rain! It is still dripping as I type this, so I'm hoping for a really wet morning. 
     Sorry-this was a very rambling  simple pleasure post, but one I needed for myself. If you stuck around to read to the end, please comment what is giving you joy, smiles, or those simple pleasures that make this  world a better place. 

21 comments:

  1. Very nice simple pleasures! A great way to look at things when indeed so much around us just does plain suck.

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    1. I can get myself real wond up and then depressed. This helps me a lot to see the brighter side.

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  2. I've been definitely feeling similarly, as some really nasty vax/anti vax "debates" have been happening in my extended family. As someone with an autoimmune disease, who is getting a booster & is at additional risk, it's really hard for me to step out of the discussions. They make me really angry.

    We're having a recall election, so picture some of the 2020 politics, all over local news, FB, Nextdoor, our school's parenting alias...it's making me batty. I do not want to be immersed in politics again. I'm done.

    Trying hard to focus on the positives, and doing what I can to help myself & others, vs getting frustrated. It's a real work in progress

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    1. With all the misinformation going on, it's no wonder that around half the population doesn't want to take the shot/s.

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    2. My son follows politics pretty closley out there. To Sue, ther misinformaiton is being spread by folks that do "research" to just vlaidate their views and ignore what doens't fit their narrative. Then they throw it inot the bowl of the WEF and others tryign to control the world. I'm exhasuted by them all. Don't want the vax, then they can shut up about it.

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  3. I'm enjoying a simple pleasure right now. I put some vanilla creamer in a glass full of ice, poured some rum over it and added some leftover coffee from this morning, gave it a brisk stir and it's a delicious after work drink. I can feel it relaxing my aching back and feet. It's been a long day.

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    1. Now if I liked sweet coffee, that woudl hit the spot.

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  4. Sounds like some lovely joys and the people that make your life good! What fun outings! Love the picture of the gas station with the classic cars. The Van Gogh exhibit sounds wonderful, and how fun to experience it with your daughter.
    Thanks for sharing your simple pleasures.

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    1. Being a vacation week, I had extra time with people so tha tis always an added joy.

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  5. I like your simple pleasures, Sam. It’s good to be able to look at things positively because being negative is going to have us feeling down, which we don’t want or need. My positive thought today is that my to do list is not weighing on me heavily. I like that!

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    1. I'll ignore my To Do list for my house util Saturday. I am getting caught up at work.

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  6. I love the relationship your two girls have. My daughters are similarly close. And, you getting to hear all their laughter was pure gold. Was that a working gas station? What did they sell inside? Nice cars! Doing nothing not far from home is what we do. It is fun even if not exotic.

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    1. Do you see your daughters much-are they still in the area? It's nice when siblings enjoy each others company.

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  7. What a lovely, joyful post!
    I can just see the three of you going wild in the thrift shop and having to talk your youngest daughter down - I love seeing generaions of families having fun in ours, it reminds me of mum, grandma and me doing the same. I can't wait to see what they bought!
    That petrol station is amazing, it looks like something from a film set. xxx

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    1. She was so funny. She say things like, "Don't laugh, but I love this." She found a tie front shirt with a variety of colored stipes-quite ranbowy, and declared she had to have it for Pride events if not worn for anything else. She oculd care less that the brand was tat, as I think you might say. But, she didn't buy it first hand so there's that.

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  8. I'm a little late, but my true simple pleasure was the rain we got on Monday. We actually got 1-1/2" total which is equal to the amount we had gotten this whole summer!! So yeah, 3" total for the entire season. Sure hope the predictions for more are accurate. We can definitely use more. Ranee

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    1. Was that not wonderful! I sure hope those in NE Minnesota get the rain that is in the forecast here today. I feel so bad for those experiencing the fires.

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  9. You're right, the world does seem to be in a helluva state right now, but then I think every generation has it's crap to bear and we just got lucky until now! So with that being said, you're also so very right to recognize what has brought you joy (and continues to do so), but I think you may have awoken a sleeping beast in introducing your daughter to thrifting. It's so addictive!

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    1. Putting the current state of the world in historical context, yes, we should be able to get through this and move on to better days. I worry about the beast in the thrift store-she is a clutter bug even worse than her mother. I just saw a YouTube by one of my favorites who had taken her daughter thrifting before her junior year of highschool, and she got some deals-though I think my daughter got better quality items for better prices. That was my and DD1's influence. She got an Eddie Bauer coat that (closest look) on line at their site selling for $109, for $6.99 an dit looked brand new!

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  10. In King Lear, I remember that the only thing that made the awful terrible senseless tragedies bearable was the kind acts of simple folk doing what they can for each other. Simple joys despite it all. Works for me.

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    1. My mode of operation I hope. It's easier to be kind than not.

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