Today I woke up in a very bad mood. I think the mood was set when I slept through the radio alarm which is tuned to public radio. While I was attempting to get another 20 minutes of peaceful sleep, my brain was being bombarded by disturbing messages like “more killed in Iraq,” “Palestinian unrest,” “missing pregnant woman,” and so on. It’s hard enough to listen to these stories when I’m awake and ready for it. Although I think that’s it. I’m never ready for it. Every day I still wake up and don’t expect to hear such horror stories. Yet every day I do. That’s one of the reasons that I don’t watch tv news anymore. It’s too much. And frankly, there’s not much actual news. I think I need to set my alarm to a music station. Heck, even the ear-shattering beep of the alarm would be better.
So I carried that with me most of the day. Fun, huh? But I’m sure I’m not alone. And of course, I am fortunate. I have been thankful to only hear about it. Just think of the poor souls who are living it. I think the problem is, I do.
People around here pray a lot. Jett and I have found ourselves doing a bit of the same after watching a mom-friend and her daughter say a small, spontaneous prayer for comfort when the girl was simply having a bad day. It was really sweet and heartfelt, and sealed a bond between them. So we’ve been trying it. Every day we say a short prayer or thank you for a person and an animal (Jett insisted, and I agreed). Today was grandma and Pearl the cat. It doesn’t hurt. I figure it helps to negate some of the bad vibes floating around.
I think I’m also ready for a trip home. No matter what, south Florida is still home. I miss my friends and family and I just need an escape from all this dang quiet, peaceful nature! Ironic, but it’s just my bad mood talking. Of course, when I’m in Florida I’ll be enjoying (aaah beach, pedicure, latte and thai food) yet cursing my surroundings (ick! traffic, noise, rudeness, so crowded and dirty) and itching to get back here to pick the zucchini (2 today), count the green tomatoes popping out and play fetch with Buster.
I realized that we have been here 1 year almost to the day. It’s gone so fast. Coincidentally enough, one of our neighbors that we had yet to meet stopped by to bring us a “welcome to the area” pie (some kind of pecan, whipped cream, pineapple concoction). It took an entire year, but she still did it which was a really nice surprise — so now we have anniversary pie for dessert tonight. That makes me feel a little better.