I woke up this morning dragging, in a this weekend was so fun and full, did it have to end just yet? kind of way. OK, a lot of Monday mornings are like that, right? Back to the grind. But this was more than just a case of wishing the work week could hold off starting for a little while longer. Really I just wanted to hold onto those feelings of immense gratitude and love that I’d experienced—I wanted that to stick around way more than wanting simply the days of Saturday and Sunday to continue.
My sister-in-law got married this weekend, and along with celebrating the smitten-ness and happiness she and her husband Tom have with each other, we were able to spend time with people we just don’t get to see all that often. It was an intimate, quaint wedding—held outside beneath trees full of yellow pears on a beautiful Leelanau Peninsula farm—and it was just perfect, all around. Even the chill, drizzle and cloudy sky didn’t dampen the mood. To warm up we drank the most delicious cinnamon cider margaritas and danced to a live folk band inside a barn decorated with lighted birch tree table centerpieces made by the groom. Don’t even get me started on the exquisite food served–all farm-to-table, even a kale salad that Joe and I couldn’t stop talking about. I need to get my hands on that recipe…
I knew a run this morning would snap me out of my funk and get me on track for the to-do list and week ahead, and Joe was up for joining me. We kept to the roads, taking it slow and steady on the hilly route. It was early and the air was crisp-cold. The sunshine was magnificent and the sky was so clear and blue. It was that kind of morning, and being out there, feeling the frigid air on my face—this was definitely the coldest morning yet this fall—the overwhelming happy feelings from the weekend bubbled up again inside of me. It’s fascinating how these little tiny moments in my life now stick out as such important ones to hold on to. I was feeling drunk on life. I still am this afternoon, actually, which is why I thought a post sharing the marvelousness of this Monday was in order. And, to be honest, I was motivated by one of my favorite running bloggers and friends, Angela over at Happy Fit Mama, who posted a marvelous post herself today. Thanks for the inspiration, friend!
After our run, I settled in for a few hours of work at the computer before meeting up with my aunt for lunch. Thalia is my dad’s sister, and she is staying with him for the week. We’d planned our get-together several weeks ago, and today as I drove downtown for our lunch at the Green House Cafe, I thought how perfect it was to be meeting her this week, on the heels of this amazing wedding and also just two days before my own wedding anniversary–the wedding she officiated 14 years ago this Wednesday in a small church in Elk Rapids, Mich. Sitting across from Thalia, chatting nonstop about family and kids and work and travel and life, those same feelings of gratitude and love washed over me, yet again. Another simple, important moment of my day to treasure.
More work in the afternoon, but I paused long enough to make myself a spiced chai (the packet had only been sitting in my cupboard for months). I’m such a coffee drinker, but lately I’m thinking I could cut back a bit — you know, not drink it all. day. long. So I took this mix and instead of using water, stirred in vanilla soy milk. Heated it up. Delicious. Opening the windows to feel the cool breeze and to soak up the sun some more while sipping this was, yep, marvelous.
I’m looking forward to trying my second master’s swimming class later this week (I shared this on the Facebook page last week if you missed it–me in the pool, attempting to learn to swim so I can do tri’s!), and I’m pretty sure I’m signing on for this weekend’s Vasa Trail Run. Probably the 25K. I think. It’s shaping up to be a marvelous week.
What’s got you smiling and full of gratitude these days?
