Domesticated Diversity

I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt so Suzie Q. Homemaker. (Why the Q? Anyone know?) I helped to throw a baby shower this weekend and ended up spending most of Friday decorating and baking. I wore my apron most of Friday and even kept it on during the shower on Saturday morning. As I piled up my car with blueberry coffee cake, monkey bread, flowers, presents, prizes, cameras, and a pair of shoes to work in and one to hostess in...I began to wonder how some people just LOVE what I was doing. I did enjoy the time, but it was absolutely exhausting. I went straight from the shower to work and didn’t make it home until after 7:00pm. I threw the dishes in the sink and then crashed.

I worked until late afternoon yesterday and decided to not do my dishes or laundry, but to quickly pack up a lunch and adventure to the nearest patch of green. I sat on a blanket and enjoyed lunch by the greenway at my library. Like my father, I have a hard time staying still for long. I did manage to lie and read for the better part of an hour before even checking my watch. Lunch, a pleasant read, the bright Arizona sun all made for a lovely experience. I only feared being taken out by a stray fly from the ball fields a few times.

I went hiking this morning and then determined to make another batch of monkey bread to deliver to some dear friends. I revealed my plan and they promptly invited me for lunch. I pulled out the bunt pan and my trusty apron once more and threw the bread into bake. The cake cover rolled around in my front seat once again and I arrived at noon to enjoy chicken salad sandwiches and monkey bread in their delightfully green backyard. Motivated by their garden, I stopped at a greenhouse on the way home and picked up my own kit for enriching my bare patio. A planter of various flowers*, watering can, and a bag of miracle grow are all I have to show for my trip, but my patio is improving. I would say this is the end of my little dip into housekeeping, but I hear laundry calling. I'd better go do something drastically irresponsible and dangerous...like have ice cream and an orange for dinner.

*Those are my new flowers in the photo. Let's hope I can keep them alive for over 2 weeks.

Sabbath

I am such a mixed up person. I have this desire to take life slowly and enjoy it as it comes. But I also have a desire to make decisions, to run around, and to accomplish as many things as possible before my eyes close at night. (I couldn’t even type “before my head hits the pillow” because a lot of the time I’m still making lists or doing things once I get into bed.)

I spent a large part of my afternoon in a Gelato shop that was playing some great music. After the 93 degree heat outside (yes, it IS November) the cool interior was a real treat. I sat down with “East of Eden” for the better part of an hour. Every so often the guilt would creep in and I would feel the need to flee the scene and become responsible and accomplished with my afternoon…but the music was so nice, and the smell from the neighboring Coffee Shop so comforting…that I couldn’t. I just couldn’t t myself away from the enjoyment.

Usually, the responsible side of me wins. I never stay in one place for very long, perhaps something I picked up from an overly productive father. I walk into a coffee shop to read or study and end up leaving after 30 minutes, the moment I have finished my purchase. I don’t know what the deal is. I’m trying hard to balance this out. But even now, I am gazing at the clock on the wall of the library knowing that I should hop on the elevator to take me to class…but it’s not really time for class…I just like to be responsible and early.

Perhaps that is why I’m generally the first one at the party…the first one for jury summons this morning, and by far one of the first ones to leave a gathering. I’m pretty sure I’m not socially awkward, but I do find myself increasingly inept at rest and recuperation.

Hmm…maybe I’m onto something. Didn’t God say something about having a Sabbath? I think that sounds ri ----- better go. Don’t want to be late to being early to class.