What a delightful telling of your topsy-turvy day! I love your cheerful outlook from the moment you woke wondering what was going on, you're an inspiration for how to have a healthy mindset. I might have found myself running around like a chicken while barking at my kids to get out the door and being frustrated that the tree guy caught me in my pajamas. But then again, maybe I would channel my inner Dr Penry and adopt a better attitude. Well done!
Actually what I really liked about this post was how a messed up day turned into a wonderful story which in itself saved the day when the intended post didn't get out there. Sort of makes me look forward to it even more.
I agree Safar. I admire this, the ability to pivot so quickly to write from the heart about immediate stuff. That kind of writing is raw and real as much as the deeper stuff.
I love the opportunity for an in-the-moment post and will usually push the next one down the calendar to make room for surprises. I haven't read any Substack advice about that, but I'm partial to it as a method. :-)
I meant to get up from my table and start tackling the day's tasks, but I let myself read just one more...and so glad I did. This was delightful and lovely. We had some trees trimmed by the power company last fall, and I was so hoping they would take down some branches that they did not. Next time, I will know what to do! But maybe it only works on April 1...?
Wow, you weren't kidding! I definitely see the Engineer and Magician all throughout your day. I LOVED reading this, Tara! (Also. side note, I'm one of those people who simply wouldn't have answered the door at all and then would've missed the tree guys altogether.)
Haha! You see why your post gave me such déjà vu about my day. That third (non) response to the doorbell is important for those who work from home. Sometimes we’re home-but-not-home.
I love the two kinds of people. I wear sweatpants to bed so I'll be ready for whoever comes to the door. And what a great deal to be had with the tree trimmers.
I’m always looking for p.j’s that look like sweatpants, or sweatpants that feel like p.j.’s for that purpose. Also, so I can sit on my porch in the morning in milder weather without having to get dressed first. 😉
Yeah, the last thing I’m worried about is how I look in them - as long as it doesn’t look to strangers like I just rolled out of bed! Funny that I even care, but I do.
Ah, the porch! Just the place for beloved sweatpants or shorts with holes in them, retired from active duty in public places, but too comfortable to throw away. Thank goodness for the porch to give these treasured duds an extended life.
Coming late to this post, but I love your buoyancy at the end! I keep hoping some of that optimism will rub off on me. But happy endings are good, however you come by them!
These two sentences are pitch perfect: "I watched them hurry down the block at 7:06. A minute went by, then another before bus lights appeared in the dimness and swung the corner, right on time."
I love watching the kids go off down the street and seeing how much they look like lanky young adults now, while remembering when they first started the walk to school without a parent. It's true what they say about the time going quickly.
Tara, I loved this story, especially your last sentence about having faith. It’s such a good reminder for me. I’m a little teary thinking about this, actually. You really made me rethink my attitude. Maybe I don’t have to shoulder everything alone and can ask for help from time to time - and trust that it will come.
Serena, I'm glad this landed in a good place for you last week. It's a marvelous thing when words keep reverberating beyond their point of origin, isn't it? I hope you are keeping your faith up, these several days later. 💕
Lovely! A story about having a little faith in the universe, yes— but also don’t forget that from the moment you put on that sweater and opened the door through the last glide of your saw, you opened yourself to receive that offering.
Thank you, Abra. You're right. I do sometimes take the third approach to the doorbell, if I'm working from home and in a meeting. It's hard, but sometimes I just don't get up at all. So you're right. That first step was a choice to let the day go the way it did. :-)
Some of the best jokes make us feel better for having been the butt of them.
Yes! Agreed. I was the butt and the stump of this one. :-)
What a delightful telling of your topsy-turvy day! I love your cheerful outlook from the moment you woke wondering what was going on, you're an inspiration for how to have a healthy mindset. I might have found myself running around like a chicken while barking at my kids to get out the door and being frustrated that the tree guy caught me in my pajamas. But then again, maybe I would channel my inner Dr Penry and adopt a better attitude. Well done!
Also, I love the title of this post!
Haha! I find it makes a difference to always keep a loud fuschia sweater nearby for doorbell emergencies. 😂
An excellent strategy!
Haha, my inner Dr Penry! Now I'm seeing people all over the world springing into action Dr Penry style!
Haha! They can borrow my hand saw. I’m going to lay off it for at least a day. 😅
Know that feeling well!
Actually what I really liked about this post was how a messed up day turned into a wonderful story which in itself saved the day when the intended post didn't get out there. Sort of makes me look forward to it even more.
I agree Safar. I admire this, the ability to pivot so quickly to write from the heart about immediate stuff. That kind of writing is raw and real as much as the deeper stuff.
I love the opportunity for an in-the-moment post and will usually push the next one down the calendar to make room for surprises. I haven't read any Substack advice about that, but I'm partial to it as a method. :-)
I meant to get up from my table and start tackling the day's tasks, but I let myself read just one more...and so glad I did. This was delightful and lovely. We had some trees trimmed by the power company last fall, and I was so hoping they would take down some branches that they did not. Next time, I will know what to do! But maybe it only works on April 1...?
I hope you'll let me know if it works on other days! 😂 🙏 Happy productivity time now that you're up from the table. Me, too. :-)
Sweet and quiet reading that made me go awwwww. Thank you.
🙏🏼🥰
Wow, you weren't kidding! I definitely see the Engineer and Magician all throughout your day. I LOVED reading this, Tara! (Also. side note, I'm one of those people who simply wouldn't have answered the door at all and then would've missed the tree guys altogether.)
Haha! You see why your post gave me such déjà vu about my day. That third (non) response to the doorbell is important for those who work from home. Sometimes we’re home-but-not-home.
I love the two kinds of people. I wear sweatpants to bed so I'll be ready for whoever comes to the door. And what a great deal to be had with the tree trimmers.
Yours is the wardrobe of good sense!
I’m always looking for p.j’s that look like sweatpants, or sweatpants that feel like p.j.’s for that purpose. Also, so I can sit on my porch in the morning in milder weather without having to get dressed first. 😉
Old sweatpants work perfectly. Not the most sexy but when you’ve been married for 32 years…
Yeah, the last thing I’m worried about is how I look in them - as long as it doesn’t look to strangers like I just rolled out of bed! Funny that I even care, but I do.
Ditto. I'm willing to be seen as someone-trying-not-to-look-like-she-just-rolled-out-of-bed, but not as someone who looks it and neglects to care.
It’s a fine line.
Ah, the porch! Just the place for beloved sweatpants or shorts with holes in them, retired from active duty in public places, but too comfortable to throw away. Thank goodness for the porch to give these treasured duds an extended life.
Yes! And an excuse to not throw them out.
🙄 👍
You scored.
Definitely! Now it’s my job to fill the space and block the view into the neighbor’s windows. 🫣 One thing at a time.
Coming late to this post, but I love your buoyancy at the end! I keep hoping some of that optimism will rub off on me. But happy endings are good, however you come by them!
These two sentences are pitch perfect: "I watched them hurry down the block at 7:06. A minute went by, then another before bus lights appeared in the dimness and swung the corner, right on time."
I love watching the kids go off down the street and seeing how much they look like lanky young adults now, while remembering when they first started the walk to school without a parent. It's true what they say about the time going quickly.
Tara, I loved this story, especially your last sentence about having faith. It’s such a good reminder for me. I’m a little teary thinking about this, actually. You really made me rethink my attitude. Maybe I don’t have to shoulder everything alone and can ask for help from time to time - and trust that it will come.
Thank you for sharing this. 😊
Serena, I'm glad this landed in a good place for you last week. It's a marvelous thing when words keep reverberating beyond their point of origin, isn't it? I hope you are keeping your faith up, these several days later. 💕
Thanks Tara. I am (mostly). I have my moments, but the more I practice having faith, the more natural it becomes.
Me, too. :-)
Lovely! A story about having a little faith in the universe, yes— but also don’t forget that from the moment you put on that sweater and opened the door through the last glide of your saw, you opened yourself to receive that offering.
Thank you, Abra. You're right. I do sometimes take the third approach to the doorbell, if I'm working from home and in a meeting. It's hard, but sometimes I just don't get up at all. So you're right. That first step was a choice to let the day go the way it did. :-)