Abbondanza

Early this morning just about when my eyes rose above the rim of my coffee cup, I found myself on the edge of a covid inspired jeremiad. Boredom, loss of spontaneity and the prospect of another day of social distancing had me on the slippery slope of self pity and low-grade depression. Just as I was about to push over into the downward spiral I glanced up and was saved the trip. The window sill in the kitchen was lined from end to end with homegrown tomatoes and red peppers. As I took in the wonders of the produce, the birds began to sing and the sun crested the mountains that we see from our front porch.

As often happens, a line from Shakespeare came to me… ” people usually are the happiest at home.” Agreement was instantaneous. What-after all-was I missing? The fact that I couldn’t sit in a loud restaurant waiting for an overpriced Reuben or go to a chain store for some retail therapy didn’t hold a candle to the opportunity to water my raised beds and chat with my wife. My observation of the denizens of 92128 suggested that this was not a troubled time, rather, it was a rare chance to connect with what the folks call the simple pleasures.

All around me people were gardening, remodeling, scrubbing, scouring and washing the required white mini-vans that are the cars of choice in this sunny clime. People were actually busy and most seemed happy about it. In fact, the neighborhood had become a large charcuterie board bearing new tastes and a surprising variety of options. People were happily munching away at things that made them happy and the fact that the party was private didn’t seem to temper their positive view of the day’s fare.

I realized that I needed to rethink my idea of entertainment. There is joy in framing a picture or making biscuits from scratch; from the kind of experiences that are normally busy lives make impossible. Thoreau put it well when he observed, “the man is rich whose pleasures are the cheapest.” As my morning coffee kicked in, my awareness of this truth began to waken. Most of my joys -the ones that really mattered- were as free as could be. The challenge was to adjust my thinking to accommodate them.

For years, my favorite thing has been my morning talks with my wife and they are as free as the air. A much needed reminder came my way this morning, a reminder of the richness that is free to everyone.

I am very excited…tomorrow I plan to shine my shoes.