Mar 08
5 reasons to smile… (and 3 songs)
[This post is part of Lightening’s Smiley Saturdays.]
My Favourite Suburb
On my way to university each day, I pass through my favourite suburb, the one I want to be living in again as soon as Ii can. It’s not the most beautiful, or the most stylish, or the most avant-garde or… Well, it’s not the most anything, but on my first day, walking through those streets, from the train station to the tram, I remembered what it felt like to be ‘home’, both in a place and in myself. It just lifted me up.
Reading
For a long time now I’ve been having trouble reading, depression making the kind of concentration necessary very difficult. But since I brought my textbooks and course materials home, I haven’t wanted to stop. Not only am I reading again, but my mind is alive with ideas again. And that means I feel alive.
The Weather
Yes, the sun has been shining and that makes me feel wonderful, even though my face is now horribly freckled brown, but this is Melbourne. The four seasons in one day we have also make me feel at home. Running around barefoot in floating cotton dresses, or jumping in puddles, or reading outside under the tree, or snuggling up under homemade blankets… They’ve all made me happy this week.
Watching Caspar climb into my bed (the mattress in the living room) and snuggle down into the pillow then pull the blankets up to tuck himself in made me smile too. He knows what contentment is.
This Conversation
I was working at the computer, Caspar climbs up onto my lap, and we have this conversation… (I’ve abbreviated it a little.)
Mummy: Would you like to go to the park?
Caspar: (shakes head)
Mummy: Would you like to ride your bike?
Caspar: (shakes head)
Mummy: Would you like to read a book?
Caspar: (shakes head)
Mummy: Would you like to do some drawing?
Caspar: (shakes head)
Mummy: Would you like to make music?
Caspar: (shakes head)
Mummy: Would you like to watch telly?
Caspar: (shakes head)
Mummy: Would you like to have a bath?
Caspar: (shakes head)
Mummy: Would you like to have a bottle?
Caspar: (shakes head)
Mummy: Would you like some chocolate?
Caspar: (shakes head)
Mummy: Would you like to sit on Mummy’s knee and have cuddles?
Caspar: (Nods emphatically and snuggles in.)
Yes, my love is better than chocolate, but I have saved the best for last.
A New Family Member
Caspar is no longer the youngest boy on my mother’s side of the family. On 1st of March at 8:58am, my cousin gave birth to a baby boy. He weighed 3565 grams and his big brothers think he is cool. I haven’t met him yet because he lives in Sydney, but I was so excited to hear the news. Congratulations to B and M, and J and J.
And welcome to the world, Archie.
March 8th, 2008 at 2:05 am
The way you talk about your fav suburb is the way I feel about my favourite suburb here in Tokyo!
I am the same with reading when I am depressed or stressed which is why recently I haven`t read so much lately….glad your reading groove has come back! Glad you are happier and feeling more alive! It is a great feeling!
Weather here got warmer for awhile but soon returned to the cold windy weather we were used to. But ume blossoms are out which means the cherry blossoms aren`t far behind and with that will bring the start of a proper spring!
Casper sounds adorable! What a cutie! Conversations like that must make you day!
Congrats on the new addition to the family!
Smiley Saturdays are a great idea! I am happy to have such a supportive partner who bought me lemon c drinks because of my cold! I am also happy to be writing more again!
Have a nice weekend!
March 8th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Ah! Gah! Now you’ve made me all completely JEALOUS with your Reading paragraph. Part of me is the perpetual “professional” student. One day I’ll go back…
March 8th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Great reasons to smile Lani - I loved the conversation indeed priceless.
I am glad things are coming together for you on many fronts - being able to have the concentration reading is a bonus.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Ah, I love the better-than-chocolate part of being a mommy. Loved this post! It made me smile.
And congratulations on the new family member.
March 10th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Love you more than chocolate? Now that is love.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Welcome, Archie!
March 11th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
@ Lulu - Isn’t it great to have a suburb like that! You must be looking forward to the cherry blossoms. I can only imagine what it’s like in real life. They are so beautiful. And yes, that conversation really did make my day!
@ Karen - I think ALL of me is the perpetual student. i can’t help you with the jealousy but, believe me, I’ve felt that myself many a time. I still get a little envious listening to my Mum talking about her travels too. I have ‘one day’ thoughts about that. But at least one ‘one day’ is here now.
@ Trish - The reading is a real bonus. Reading, thinking, writing: They are the things which make me feel like myself.
@ Eve - Thank you! I hope there are lots more better-than-chocolate moments to come. I’m still waiting for the day when he calls me Mummy, and the day he says “I love you, Mummy” will, I think, be one of the best moments of my life. That, of course, will probably be followed by a few years without quite so much personal validation for me, but that’s the job, right?
Lol.
@ Kelly - Yup. And he really loves chocolate!
@ Musing - Thank you. And oh, I’m still so happy that you’re back online!