Three Things

It's pretty simple. Here are three things that make me grin this Thursday...

My Prayer Chair

Now I realize it may seem a bit silly and superficial to have a specific chair where you pray. I'm not telling you that you have to have an Eames or some fancy upholstered armchair to pray or meditate, but it doesn't hurt to have a special place where you can close your eyes and thank your lucky stars on a daily basis. Go ahead and roll your eyes, but I heard the term on Oprah, and something inside me just kind of clicked. Thanks O for another ah-ha moment (wink, wink, chuckle). When she mentioned this catchy term, I realized that's exactly what my Eames means to me. As some of you are aware, it was gifted to me from my parents last year. It's my happy place! When I take a seat in it, I feel at peace. The curves of the rocker feel like a hug from my mom. I can close my eyes and hear my sister's laugh and witty words of wisdom from my dad. From time to time, I've been caught by Flyboy -- he'll walk in to find me with my eyes closed for a quick and serene escape. It doesn't take long before I feel his presence, or hear the sound of the dogs paws following him into the room. I often sit in this chair during the afternoon when there's a sweet and subtle breeze. It's fun to grab a Moleskine and brainstorm or make lists. It's a little space where I can make sense of things and show gratitude for this amazing life I've been given. Once I take a seat, I feel calm and reassured that everything will fall into place with time. After a peaceful little moment, I leave my prayer chair hopeful and optimistic, and I feel a little closer to the ones I love so dearly. I think it's exactly how you should feel when you go to your happy place.  

A melody that brings back a memory.

All too often, I travel on the same road to get from our house to various parts of the island. Just recently, I was cruising down this particular stretch of the interstate when a song came on the radio. It brought on instant warm and fuzzies and took me back to a moment I shared with my mom and sister years ago. In fact, it was on this same route that we were headed from the base to the beach on a warm summer day. Dad was hard at work (or hardly working), and the three of us packed up for some fun in the sun. Mom was driving the family car and we'd just got done traveling through a tunnel. The classic rock radio station was really fuzzy and breaking in and out. As we came out of the tunnel, mom cranked up the volume. It was ACDC's You Shook Me All Night Long playing. I remember looking at my sister with confusion. "What's gotten into her? What is this noise that she's blaring? Why is she thumping on the steering wheel?" The next thing I know, my mom is singing from the top of her lungs and dancing at the wheel. It was one of those moments I'll never forget, like a spirited scene from an uplifting movie. My sister and I just started giggling and bobbing our head to the tunes. My mom has always been one to break out into an impromptu jig in the middle of a grocery store if the music was right, even if it was slightly embarrassing. I guess this moment just kind of caught us off guard. In typical mom style, she added an extra splash of fun to our day. Whenever I hear the song, I think of her and that moment. You can only imagine how thrilled I was to hear the song on the radio a few weeks ago, traveling the same exact route, and the smile that came with hearing this classic hit.   

A fresh bag of candy corn.

There's no special story or Ashley anecdote to go with this piece of happy. The candy is just delicious and cheerful. It's a fall staple. If you're looking for a reason to smile, go pick up a bag! Perhaps this is the culprit behind my cavity collection, but can you really blame a sweet so delightful? I mean, it is one of Buddy the Elf's four main food groups.

Toodles,

ANF

P.S. All watercolor illustrations were created by the oh-so-talented Caitlin McGauley. Check out her site.