Nature's Anti-Depressant

So - been a bit down in the dumps lately. The best medicine for chasing the blues away for me (at least temporarily) is to go to the beach. Last week I spent Monday, Wednesday and Saturday down in the sand. I wanted so badly to just stay until sunset each day but alas, I have classes to teach on both Monday and Wed. evenings and had to leave under protest. But I vowed that I would go on a Friday or Saturday and stay till that fiery ball dropped into the ocean and Saturday was the day. It was so beautiful that day. Warm enough to sit and read all day long, yet cool enough not to sweat! The sky was that bright cloudless blue and there was a slight breeze - the perfect beach day.

And what else makes for a perfect beach day? Happy kids and a fabulous book! I have been reading the Dragon Tattoo series. You know? The trilogy the whole world has been peeing their pants over raving about?? Honestly? They are good. But I wouldn't characterize them as over the top, page turning FABULOUS. They all tell a good story and I do love Lisbeth Salander, the main character - you know - the girl with the dragon tattoo? But the first book, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, took three tries before I finally settled into it. And I only stuck with it the third time because everyone said "You HAVE to get past page 61" or something like that. Aghhh those Swedish namessssss!!!! But I did finally get past page 61 and yes I "liked" it. I didn't love it. I liked The Girl Who Played With Fire better and I do like The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest also. Especially the end. I will be finishing it tonight (after I go pick it up out of my van, which is sitting at the local gin joint.) Sigh - yes I did it again. For those of you who follow my life, you will remember I did this a few weeks ago, too. HATE when I do that - twice!!!

Anyway - got a little off subject there...



So I had 5 kids with me and they were having the time of their lives digging a hole to China. Around 4, I texted my husband and suggested he grab a few pizzas and two a bottle of wine and meet us in the sand for the sunset and he said he wanted to weed whack for a bit and then he would be down. The kids were ecstatic and I was very happy to know I would be extending my day in the sun with a glass of Chardonnay in my hand.

Then it all fell apart. Here's the text I received at 5:03: "Call me. Dad did it again! I broke the front door glass. F#>%+@...it's cracking as we speak." The F'ing weed whacker! What IS it about men? What is the big freaking deal about having to weed whack? This is the THIRD time in 3 years that a stray stone has exploded a window. When our van was a week old, the passenger window exploded. A week later the rear window of our Saab and now 3 years later our FRONT DOOR! Obviously - there would be no wine at sunset on my beach afterall. SHIT...Sniff...sigh...

Oh well - it was almost a perfect day and - all in all, I still found some joy and soothed my battered soul for a few hours. There will always be another sunset on another day...