Back in the States after being gone for quite a while feels fresh and alive...and fun! People move faster, lights seem brighter, there's new stimulation when we drive by houses and shopping malls and playground packed parks. New faces and feelings, expectations and understoods. There are new electronics, new tv shows, new cars and running shoes and stand up scooters. And me? I feel like all I do is smile and stare and smile some more---in my car, pushing Sofia in the shopping cart, pumping gas, even when we take lazy walks in this beautiful, flower-laden American small town. And maybe, just maybe I make a few smiles myself. I know I gave one. To the bus driver. I was rocking away, singing my heart out in the car and saw him watching me right before I turned. He was chuckling. Chuckling as he drove his bus load of worker bees to their jobs and homes and friends. What a nice man. I'm sure of it.
Some of my new favorite things this week, things that made me smile:
1. Small town American ingenuity: A man mowing his lawn with a riding lawn mower. He mounted a big plush seat from a car onto his riding lawn mower. To ride in comfort! I am still smiling…
2. Annie Chun's Seaweed Snacks: I love how they melt like tissue paper in my mouth. Instant smile. Oh, and they taste salty-delicious, too!
3. New toothpaste: Have you met Natura yet? It’s a new toothpaste that comes in a little bottle with an eye dropper. Liquid packed yum! You can use it like a breath freshener, too. Either way, it's all natural smiles for your tongue!
4. Shelled hemp seed: with the price of pine nuts these days, here is my answer to the craving. They come in tiny bags and have 2000 mgs. of Omega 3's, and all 10 essential amino acids. And best of all, I LOVE the texture and flavor!
5. Bookstores: To walk into a big store with shelves and shelves of paper covers holding even more paper inside, with all of those papers covered in words, creative ideas squished into little rectangular squares…is pure delight. Sometimes, if I stand really quietly I think I can hear the words transforming themselves into voices, swirling like letter clouds, pirouetting throughout the store. Oh, how I miss bookstores down in Mexico. If you can't find me here on my blog, you will surely find me there, nose in a book.
Ok, so after you watch the bonus video, it's your turn! What gave you new smiles this week?
11 comments:
I reached 70 followers on my blog and that gave me smiles. My friend's daughter had a baby and that made me smile and my son's visit definitely made me smile a lot!
Brynne, you're back! I've missed you so! I even left a comment for you in your last blog post! Loved reading this post! It's beautiful how you find magic in the simple things. I want to be just like you, friend! Things that made me smile this week would include a red and black Mini Cooper, which I promptly named the ladybug car and a chair I brought home after I found it near a trash bin. Post for that coming up next week! Stay tuned! So glad you're back! :)
@Brynne - welcome back! What makes me smile is to see my daughters sleep. They seem so peaceful! This week, I also ate a fantastic tiramisu...and it made me really happy!
omg! my daughters were just singing this this morning! I wouldn't say it was a 'new' smile, but a very lovely nostalgic one. And it made me smile to think that they were enjoying something that is so classic and that I loved as a child, too.
xoxo
Daughter graduated from high school, I guest blogged on a literary e-zine ( big for me because I am not the lofty sort) I survived a month of manic, found an editor for my book, and I am still in love with writing.. I liked your point about book stores - my weakness, even though I have an e-reader, I continue to love books.
Elizabeth!!! 70 followers?? HOoOray! And two babies came into your life...your friend's and your own! Makes me smile, too. Thank you!
BELLA!!! Missed you terribly, too! It really *is* about the little simple things, isnt it? Its what makes my days magic, anyway! Thanks for pointing that out! p.s. I love it that you find treasures in unexpected places! I love it that you see with your heart, dear friend. Yay, Bella!!:)
Muriel!!! I LOVE tiramisu, tooO! One time my ex-husband's family and I did a tiramisu tour of Italy. We discovered two main kinds...cakey and custardy. Which was the one that made you smile this week?? Maybe we need a whole post of the joys of tiramisu!! What FUN! Thanks for being here, Muriel! I miss your blog but will come play soon!
Stacey!!! I agree with you about the song, too! It got me right here, in the softest, nostalgic, childhood dreams spot. OoOo. Yay! SoOo glad it got you, too. Hugs, dear Stacey! I missed you!!
Brenda!!! My GOODNESS! You had a HUGE week!! Why dont you post your link to the e-zine? I bet we'd all like to read it! And an editor for your book??! WOoOweeE!! Baby done with high school??! Man!! And on top of all that a month of manic still hasnt put out your writing fire? You must have fire coming out of your ears!! What a ride!! Its exhilarating even for me!!! Cheering for you, Brenda!! HUGS, toO!
Seaweed snacks are the best! (Um, well, okay - next to bookstores, that is :-)) Have a great week, Brynne!
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