Favourite moments

There were so many things that I wanted to share. But... the special plug for my camera charger has mysteriously vanished. So fall back on the trusty old cellphone. Perhaps not... Christopher and I went grocery shopping and I let him entertain himself with it and now I think it is fubar and I cannot get it to work.

The timing is absolutely perfect having cancelled the cellphone insurance as a waste of money after paying it for years- about 3 months ago. But I console myself with the fact that the damage would not have been covered as they would have cited water damage- and no doubt being drooled on and gobbed on and sucked on and chewed on (you get the picture?) count as water damage. And if you're thinking critical thoughts, then you try taking a cellphone off a 10 month old and get back to me... What are your favourite moments of the day? I can't rate my most favourite- but in no particular order these are mine: Walking through the blue farm-house door at Christopher's creche at the end of my working day and being greeted with a smile that melts my heart and lets me know that I may be insignificant to many- but to my son, I am his favourite person; getting a phonecall from James during the day, just cos he wanted to say hi; crawling into bed at the end of a long day;

Looking at the childrens' art as I walk into Christopher's creche; lying in bed holding Christopher with his head resting above my heart when I feed him his first bottle of the day (it's generally the only time he will allow me to cuddle him); being brought a cup of tea; seeing an e-mail come in from a friend or family member that I have been eagerly waiting to hear from; sneaking in to check on Christopher sleeping and smiling to myself when I find him cuddling his teddy and sleeping in some bizarre position; watching Christopher's eyes light up when he sees one of the cats and makes off at speed after them; arriving home to see James' car already in the garage and when he doesn't arrive before me, hearing him come in the front door; having a hot bath at night... there are so many- but how easy it is for us to only think of the crap that has happened in our day- the people that were rude or thoughtless, the traffic, the ridiculous politicians, the crime...Nice to stop that constant feed of negativity and focus on the good stuff for a change. How true this quote is from Robert Brault: "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things." And while we are on quotes- I have to share this which my bookclub friend Liesl, shared with me, when I had a particularly crappy day at work and I asked her why it was that people around us can think all sorts of things about politics, sport, religion and generally- we don't care if those thoughts are different to our own- or even pretty deranged! But- when those same people think and voice things about us that we don't think are fair - they stick- they haunt- they disturb us. Why can't we let it go like all the other things that other people think- that we don't agree with? Also, why is that horrible words stick like lint to black clothes and it's so hard to let them go- but when people praise you- it may make you happy for a while- but you soon forget? Liesl wrote back and shared a favourite quote of hers in her e-mail: "Harsh words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are endless..." I'm going to add something here from Nola's e-mail to me- happens to also be from a favourite song of mine- but I never really knew the words till Nola's e-mail: "Stop and stare I think I'm moving but I go nowhere Yeah I know that everyone gets scared But I've become what I can't be, oh Stop and stare You start to wonder why you're here not there And you'd give anything to get what's fair But fair ain't what you really need..." Those last lines about wanting what is fair- just struck me- they are so true- very often fair ain't what you need. I remember when I had first started working where I currently work and a male colleague of mine who I thought was a friend said some things to me that I thought were very cruel and harsh- and I despised him for it. It is only years later with a bit of maturity under my belt (not much- just enough to scrape by) that I realise that he did me a favour in saying what he said- that he was right- and I am thankful to this day. As the saying goes- a true friend stabs you in the front! I have changed my password on my computer now- to "wonderful" and I challenge myself to not click enter after typing it in- until I have silently thought about something that is wonderful in my life- even the smallest, simplest things. I have also decided that for a while, I'm putting a filter on what I choose to focus on. No melancholy books, no violent movies... And then to share something with you that so often makes me smile inside. Something that I think of when I need a bit of a perking up or when I walk past some people that are hoity toity or just any occasion that calls for it: The Anti-Rhythm Dance. I wish that I could take credit for the idea- but credit must go to Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz. I read that every now and then just for a laugh when they are out- they do the anti-rhythm dance- I don't think it needs any explaining. It's something that has stuck with me. When I need a laugh and I 'm walking past people taking themselves too seriously, I have visions of myself, knees bent, ass out, arms flailing, jiving and shimmying and hakka'ring in my own version of The Anti-Rythm Dance. It never fails to make me grin on the inside. And now- not so much favourite moments- but little pleasures I have each day- this is one This African Violet is on my desk at work and this little plant just seems to have such heart. It just keeps going and is the most rewarding plant that I have ever owned (and in plant terms I am regrettably a serial killer). I have to admit here to being a bit Prince Charles'ish about it because I do talk to it (but only in my mind) every now and then. It is always flowering and beautiful. The sad thing is it was given to me by people who started up a new company a few years back and the plant out-lived the company (it has also outlived every other African Violet that was given away to colleagues of mine at the same time). But no credit to me... A very special person looks after this African Violet and it thrives under her green fingers. Another of my daily pleasures- Alina Mogodi- a colleague of mine who just spreads such a happy vibe around her and someone that I don't know what I would do without at work. She is a wonderful lady who is always looking out for others before herself.

And also at work- the picture does not do it justice- my office is on the 5th floor and my view is incredible. People often comment about my view when they come into my office. I am religious about pulling the blinds right back every morning. It is really magnificent in Jacaranda season- a carpet or royal purple.

I love these little guys that come and sit right on my window ledge at work- the little swifts- chirping and fluffy. Sometimes I think they sense me looking at them and they turn to look at me through the tinted windows.

And finally... a life-long pleasure...ART! But not just any art. How gorgeous is this picture by Jessie Willcox Smith? I love art that conveys emotion or a story and art that is true to life- don't give me Salvador Dali (nightmare fodder) or Picasso.

I love the pre-Raphaelites, Brian Froud, Mooney, Cicely Mary Barker. I love classical statues. One of my best days ever ( thank you to my parents for one of the best presents ever- A European Contiki Tour when I finished varsity) was the day I got to walk around the Muse d'Orsay- to this day I have yet to see so much beauty in a day.

I had never been one for Van Gogh- but to stand in front of one of his originals- the posters just don't do him justice- for one thing- his pictures are a lot larger than I thought- but if I am not mistaken- it was his Starry Night- that took my breath away- it is magnificent. Again- a wonderful reminder to pay no mind to your critics- if you look at how his work was received (or rather not received) in his day...

And finally, a picture that is hanging in my bedroom (thank you James!). It has various names- most commonly it is called- The Abduction of Psyche. The first time that I saw it was in my mother's gallery- when she owned Feathers' Gallery in Knysna. This must be over 10 years ago now. I can't tell you why, but I had such an emotional response to it- my eyes filled with tears and I got a lump in my throat- I think ...it could be the sheer, raw, tenderness that it conveys. I was ecstatic when my mom said that I could have it and had it framed for me (sadly it is a print- but just as beautiful to me anyway).

It was painted by William Adolph Bouguereau, who is one of my favourite artists- along with Leighton and Waterhouse. The story is beautiful (I love classical mythology too)- so if you don't know it (How Eros (otherwise known as Cupid)- the God of Love- fell in love - with a mere mortal nogal, how his mother dearest was not very boomps a daisy about the whole thing and how after many trials, the love of an immortal leads to a mortal attaining immortality...check out http://www.artrenewal.org/articles/2001/Cupid_and_Psyche/cupidpsyche1.asp http://www.paleothea.com/myths/psyche.html

Once you know the story- have a look at the beautiful slideshow in my next blog that tells the story using various artists' work.

The final joy of today, getting into bed with a new book- Marley and Me.

Goodnight. Sleeptight Bunnies.