‘…Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into

the conversation. The kettle is singing

even as it pours you a drink, the cooking pots

have left their arrogant aloofness and

seen the good in you at last. All the birds

and creatures of the world are unutterably

themselves. Everything is waiting for you.’

~ Everything is Waiting
for You by David Whyte

 

This wind-swept chill Saluda morning, I finally got a birthday card in the mail for a friend who has a Halloween birthday. I actually felt proud of myself for finally getting it done.

I know she’ll forgive me, especially since I promised I was still celebrating her big day, even towards Thanksgiving. And still thankful she’s my friend who will put up with this eccentric behavior of mine.

Last night, I spent an hour (maybe longer) online trying to order prescription eyeglasses from a place in California. After entering the prescription four times, I had it memorized — the website did not save my previously entered information. I need glasses to see this, I thought! Excuses, excuses. The slow food movement has nothing on me; I seem to get slower at everything.

On a dreary day, I found myself driving slowly down 176 to Tryon; the maple at Caro Mi restaurant’s river bridge suddenly caught my eye, the most beautiful sight: dark sculptural branches lifting up orange, coral, scarlet flames against silver mist. Going slow does have some benefits — you catch things you might have missed otherwise.