Conections and Reflections

Here I sit, at the end of my day, reflecting on the gifts the day rendered. As I do this, my car is not in the driveway. Kidlet passed her driver's test today and now Benzie (my car) is in her hands. Her grin couldn't have been wider as she drove us home from the testing centre, and I admit I was a little giddy as well. I think she can smell the new found independence and freedom. I think I am going to be walking more. Another milestone reached ...

I took a vacation day to take Kidlet for her driving test, making this the third Friday in a row that I have had off. I could really get used to this four day work week. Hubby and I are focused on making our back yard the retreat we want it to be. He's been doing the heavy labour and it is paying off. Just add loungers and sunshine and it's good to go!

The news program in the background is discussing the newly renamed human swine flu -- the H1N1 flu! Thank goodness ... no one wants to have swine anything.

One of my amigas came over after work - a spontaneous get together. It gave my frozen chili an encore and we made a healthy dent in that box of wine in the fridge. (Box sounds tacky doesn't it?) Sometimes spontaneous is best; no fuss or muss. Just thrown together eats and good conversation. Fritz was smitten with E, gradually making his way from the bottom of the couch near her feet to a full out cuddle fest with his head in her lap. Nothing like a good ole gab fest with a close girlfriend to kick off the weekend. Even Fritz could appreciate that!

Icing on the cake was the phone call I received from my cousin out west - who I have never met. Brings new meaning to connections. We had been emailing back and forth for a while now, learning about one another and our extended family. She is the same age as I am and coincidentally her one and only daughter has the same name as Kidlet - not a common name.
I love the first time you hear someone's voice and put it to the face. It's like another mystery solved. She sounded friendly and energetic and she said I sounded different than she expected - she thought I would have an east-coast accent.

I never cease to be amazed by the wonder of it all -- family (some of who I have never met) strewn across the expanse of our country. Something so big - and I am a part of it.

What a wonderful day - milestones, friends, family (old and new) and Fritz. I forgot to mention he got a makeover.

Today is the kind of day that makes you sigh in contentment and whisper a quiet prayer of gratitude. Thank you.