"What are you doing this summer?" my friend Doreen asked over lunch at Maria Bonita.
"Nothing." I replied.
"Nothing? What's Jack doing?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"I'm so jealous!"
I've had a remarkable number of these "nothing" conversations. I'm leading an enviable life, it seems. I suppose, though, that "nothing" depends much on your perspective. When I look back on my day I see a schedule full of gratifying activity, but because little of it was paid activity, I feel like I'm doing nothing.
Today I got up at 5:00 am. I made myself a cup of coffee, which I enjoyed with a Nonni's Biscotti. I checked my email, logged on to facebook, accepted some gifts for my L'il Green Patch, changed my status, and learned Farkle. Then I checked my Bloglines and posted here. Most mornings I take Cassie for a walk or a run, but because I've run the last two days in a row today I took a break. Another cup of coffee. Cut up half a watermelon to make a salad. Cut and sugared a pound of strawberries. Emptied the dishwasher. Folded a load of laundry. Read today's scripture. Went to Grocery Outlet and Trader Joe's. Prepped a watermelon, feta, basil, and kalamata olive salad; prepped summer squash with rustic pesto. Crocheted two rounds on a hat while watching original Star Trek first season episode "Return of the Archons." Made lunch. Swept both back patios. Gave Cassie a bath. Swept and mopped all the hard floors in the house and made all the beds. Did the 8:00 Min Arm toner workout on YouTube. Crocheted another round. Worked for 3 hours at the preschool. Made a shortcake to take with the watermelon and pesto summer squash to my neighbor's house for dinner. Watched WipeOut but skipped I Survived a Japanese Game Show. Now I'm going to hop in the shower, supervise Jack's shower and teeth brushing, then read him a picture book and a chapter of Harry Potter. Then I might read a chapter or two of my own book before drifting off to Dreamland.
That's a day full of Nothing. I love it, too, but I feel guilty that I'm not actively contributing to the financial good of the household. I'm grateful for these days but sense them coming to an end.
"Nothing." I replied.
"Nothing? What's Jack doing?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"I'm so jealous!"
I've had a remarkable number of these "nothing" conversations. I'm leading an enviable life, it seems. I suppose, though, that "nothing" depends much on your perspective. When I look back on my day I see a schedule full of gratifying activity, but because little of it was paid activity, I feel like I'm doing nothing.
Today I got up at 5:00 am. I made myself a cup of coffee, which I enjoyed with a Nonni's Biscotti. I checked my email, logged on to facebook, accepted some gifts for my L'il Green Patch, changed my status, and learned Farkle. Then I checked my Bloglines and posted here. Most mornings I take Cassie for a walk or a run, but because I've run the last two days in a row today I took a break. Another cup of coffee. Cut up half a watermelon to make a salad. Cut and sugared a pound of strawberries. Emptied the dishwasher. Folded a load of laundry. Read today's scripture. Went to Grocery Outlet and Trader Joe's. Prepped a watermelon, feta, basil, and kalamata olive salad; prepped summer squash with rustic pesto. Crocheted two rounds on a hat while watching original Star Trek first season episode "Return of the Archons." Made lunch. Swept both back patios. Gave Cassie a bath. Swept and mopped all the hard floors in the house and made all the beds. Did the 8:00 Min Arm toner workout on YouTube. Crocheted another round. Worked for 3 hours at the preschool. Made a shortcake to take with the watermelon and pesto summer squash to my neighbor's house for dinner. Watched WipeOut but skipped I Survived a Japanese Game Show. Now I'm going to hop in the shower, supervise Jack's shower and teeth brushing, then read him a picture book and a chapter of Harry Potter. Then I might read a chapter or two of my own book before drifting off to Dreamland.
That's a day full of Nothing. I love it, too, but I feel guilty that I'm not actively contributing to the financial good of the household. I'm grateful for these days but sense them coming to an end.
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