wearing a smile

You know those days when, for no particular reason, you just feel good? Happy. All seems well with your world?

Well, yesterday was not one of those.Yesterday I had lots (and lots) of particular reasons for feeling good. For being happy. Because all was right with my world.

I woke knowing that M was flying away that evening to leave me alone for a whole eight days. (He's going to Argentina for some work type stuff. He should be somewhere between Auckland and Chile by now.) I was about to start eight glorious days of answering to no-one, having no schedule, pleasing only myself. That knowledge made for a good start to the day.

The day itself was setting up for a beauty. After all the rain, I woke to brilliant sunshine. And it kept getting better. We hit an unseasonable 28 here yesterday.

I walked up the the shop mid-morning and collected the mail. A parcel from my girl over in you-know-where! Woohoo. She had sent me two beautiful pashmina shawls. One is a light sage green with an exotic Islamic type pattern on it in faint black lines. The other is a pale musky pinky tan. Gorgeous. I have always lusted after owning some pashmina but I have always looked at the price tag and not been able to justify it. It is such a wonderful lofty fabric, sensual and almost alive. I was thrilled with my gift but reminded myself to tick B off for spending her hard earned money on spoiling her Mum.

I was farting around in my bedroom, trying how various clothes looked with my new acquisitions and the phone rang. It was a call from the not-nice place. I got to thank my daughter live! We chattered about all the news that she was allowed to tell and I caught her up on the (limited) happenings on this side of the globe. We had quite a long natter session.

I did try and reprimand her about the spending habits (I'm her mum, it's my job) but she shut me up very quickly. Not only did she say I deserved them no matter what the price (isn't she a sweetie!?), she then told me what they were actually paying for them over there. What I would be forking out well over $100 for, she was getting for just a few. Pure pashmina, about $US3 and silk blends are just a measly $US2.50!

I spent the early afternoon out in the garden. Theoretically, I was gardening, pulling weeds. In reality, I was just basking in the wonderful sunshine.

I had to do some ironing sometime during the day. Normally this would lower my mood considerably. But, I was full of sunshine and phone calls and presents, and the purpose of the ironing was worthwhile, so I reduced the pile of shirts and trousers in the washing basket with far less resentment than I would usually display. By the time M got home, there was a rack of neatly pressed shirts and trousers and the (bright pink) case was half packed with undies, socks and toiletries. (I promise, no matter how tempted, I did not say "here's your hat, where's your hurry", but I did think it.)

We ate some left over curry from the weekend and he finished packing his bag. By nine o'clock he was on his way to the airport.

My holiday at home had begun.

To ice my cake, just as the sound of the diesel was fading into the distance, the phone rang. It was the son and heir calling to wish his Dad a safe trip. He got to gossip with his Mum instead.

Nothing big happened yesterday. They were all small pleasures. But, gee, it was a good day.