Just Write 157

This is the back corner of the coffee shop where I love to write. Jenna is coming soon.

There is nothing like a friend who has known you since you were five.

While I put the creamer in my dark roast, up front, a “Hi, Heather” came from behind me. I turned to see a high school teacher of mine, from all those years ago. I have no idea how so many of these people around this small hometown look the same. Hardly aged. Does Minnesota country air do something good for those that choose a healthy lifestyle? I’m pretty sure there’s something to that.

Yesterday was a hard day. I don’t know, there’s just a lot of stress. And I stopped at Goodwill to look for more vintage for the walls at the Cre8tive Escape because our Grand Opening is this Thursday and oh yeah, no we’re totally not ready. Like that kind of “not ready” that means if I wake up in the night I have trouble shutting down my brain. It wants to list all the things left to do and add new ones. It’s so silly, how you wake up in the morning and roll your eyes and feel like you aren’t even that worried about that brain list but Night Person thought you were.

Anyway. I was at Goodwill and I was walking in all hurried and brain-listing and this girl was up by the door, her arms spread wide like she was receiving, and her face was turned to the autumn sun. She shouted, so loud, WHAT A GOOD DAY TO BE ALIVE!! She was just there, walking in to shop, and stopped to soak up the day, celebrate it, praise it right out loud.

The stress in me flew out on the wind with her words.

I watched the boys walking into school when I dropped them off this morning. In the drizzling rain. Miles hopped out of the van and immediately took off his hat, started smashing down mussy hair with his palm, over and over as he walked. He said something to Asher and Asher looked up and said something back, like he was ok-ing the hair. Then he took off his hat and started in it as they walked side by side. Two boys who suddenly care about their hair before seeing their friends. It was just too much, something about this. The way they checked each other out for approval and it was helping, but it was also sad, in the way that letting go can be. You look great, loves. Always. Just you being you. I promise. 

I got choked up and Elsie asked from her seat if I was going to cry. (These poor kids with their sensitive mother always noticing.) No, Honey. I’m okay. I was just watching Brothers and I love them so much. 

A few seconds later she started to laugh, as we went over those rumble bumps that remind you to slow down. She said it tickled. Then we drove on and she started laughing when there were no rumble bumps and I asked, What now, silly head?

The trees are funny! 

Then we both laughed and laughed, because giddiness is contagious, and it’s rainy and chilly but it’s a good day to be alive.

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This is the 157th installment of Just Write, an exercise in free writing your ordinary and extraordinary moments. {New here? Please see the details.} I would love to read your freely written words so join me and link up below. You can add the url of your post at any time. Just be sure it’s a link to your Just Write post, not to your main page. (Then link back to this post in your Just Write post so people know where to go if they’d like to join in.) (Any links not following those two guidelines will be deleted.)

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