It’s Sunday morning and I am sitting on the balcony off our bedroom. The sun is streaming in, but it isn’t too hot yet. It’s perfect. I believe this may become my writing parlor. I’ve coffeed and meditated already, both from my Ikea chair. In just a little bit I will wake up my daughters and we will take the dog and their daddy out for a father’s day breakfast. I’ve already given the father-of-the-house his morning coffee and he is happily perambulating through the news on his phone.
| Happy Daddy with his gals quite some years ago! |
This summer, I think I will start my mornings out here rather than in bed, as I usually do. I am still nearby my sweetie, but it’s my own little sanctuary, and it will break the habit of scrolling through my phone and set the stage for my writing life.
It’s so good to have a space of my own. I feel so in control and feel freedom when I have my own little enclave, which is really very small. But the light. The little wool carpet. The beautiful ceramic lamp. The coffee maker and the hot water dispenser for tea. My baby fridge and a little poof made for the kitty to relax on. Oh, and the windows that surround me and let in both light and the ambient sound of Beijing at work and play – today it feels like a little bit of perfection.
I realize I don’t want much. I sometimes think that if I were on my own I wouldn’t need a space much bigger than the ensuite here. I tend to spend much of my home life in this spot and don’t crave the living room or the kitchen. Ha – that’s probably a testament to my non-domesticity. I don’t crave much beyond this. I mean, if this little spot were to be transported to a beach or to a deserted lake all my own, that might be better yet. But these are things my brain teases out of me when I am looking for comfort or ease. They also set the basis for my dreams so for now maybe it is better to imagine them, and when I get there, to live or vacation, I will be full of delight and wonder.
For now, I am perfectly content being right here. I am rather in awe of myself for my present level of contentment. I could be straining and wishing I were back in Canada or the US on our long summer vacation rather than being stranded in China due to the year(s) of covid. But I’m not feeling sad. Maybe a bit nostalgic. At least now, at the onset of the summer, I am peacefully delighted that there is nowhere to rush to and nothing that needs doing other than walking Moon Dog and maintaining some semblance of order in the house. And communing with my family. And visiting with friends. All good.
There will also be some in-China vacations where I will continue to play with words and churn out something publishable. Walk a lot. Eat beautiful food. Drink cocktails and coffee. Linger over delicious books that require some commitment. I like this very much indeed.
I am going to go wake up my girls now and have them get ready for our daddy celebration. He’s already celebrating with his morning coffee and his sweet doggie curled up beside him. Life is good on this Father’s Day. It feels like my day too. This summer I plan for every day to feel like my day.