Life is full of simple gifts, like today's, of a dental appointment, on a sunny day.
My teeth may hurt, but who cares. I am home, it is warm, there is a breeze blowing through my door at the end of October. Indian Summer for sure. It comes every year, but it always seems to surprise. We have gone to fall mode. The school year is in full swing, and the temperatures for the most part are dropping. We are beginning to prepare for the cold. Still, nature, usually, in her own unusually predictable way, sends us one last treat before her big trick of winter. The cold winds may blow soon, the snow will fly, but for now I will drink in this last blast of summmer sun.

Speaking of Indian Summer, anyone else remember this old movie? Kind of "The Big Chill" for the geeky people who were obsessed with summer camp while growing up? Ummm, yeah, looked it up on IMDB today, and this sentence of the synopsis hit me...

"A group of childhood friends, now in their thirties, reunite at Camp Tamakwa."

HA! One of those reminders that my 30's are behind me for sure. Of course they are behind the stars from the movie as well, Elizabeth Perkins and Diane Lane being two, and they look better and better every year. Bill Paxton? Well, he has improved from his role in Weird Science for sure, but his role in Big Love with all those Mormon wives...jury's still out. Yep, time soldiers on for all of us, but for the moment, I think I will go out and enjoy the Indian Summer on my deck...and prematurely age my skin just a LITTLE more in the autumnal sun...ya only live once!

Do you think that, perhaps, contentment is the true sign that you have finally, fully, grown up? Maybe?

Then again, I sometimes see myself as far, far from grown.

Still, here we are on a Friday night, and I am taking great pleasure in doing laundry. I just threw in a load, and I am reveling in the whir of the machine, doing the work that must be done, as I relax, and recharge, and write.

I used to be such an "out on Friday" girl. All through college, and even into early adult hood, it was like that 90's song...what was it?

"Just got paid, Friday night, party huntin', feelin' right."

Well, these days, even the weeks I do get paid, most of the money is already spent. And the only party I really am hunting for is at my home. The guest list is usually my family, and the dress code is strictly enforced, only comfy clothes allowed.

Surrounded by the the garlicky scents leftover from take out. Accompanied by the belly laughs of my husband, son, and daughter watching some ridiculous show on TV in the living room. There is contentment, there is love, and there is peace.

Don't get me wrong, there is a world to explore. There are places to go, people to see. But they'll be there tomorrow. For now, it is Friday, and I am home.

It is that simple...and yes, simple IS beautiful.