Walks and Talks

At this very moment I am enjoying a warm fire and Frank Sinatra's voice playing through the speakers in the lounge of a lovely inn in Napa Valley. My husband has gone to pour himself a glass of wine and I am warming up from the walk we took into downtown. Life is good.

My stomach is pleasantly full from a delicious dinner and my brain has plenty of images to pull up from our walk back to our rooms. Houses here remind me of the ones in Massachusets. They are old and full of character. Trees grow to mammoth proportions in front yards and their roots become so large it seems that the Earth below cannot hold them so they come up right through the sidewalks for some much needed air.

As we walked we talked, as best friends tend do, about how we wish we could have this house or that property. We see people walking their pure bred pups and all the trendy restaurants, some of which we steer clear of, commenting on their prices. Then it comes to me. We have made the same mistake that many people have. We have fallen into the trap of wanting that American Dream. Wanting it so badly that there are times we are unhappy with our own lives. It seems that desiring more only makes us blind to what we already have. So as we walk along I tell him that we should make each other a deal. We should let it all go. Instead of thinking about what we don't have we begin to appreciate what we do. And not only sometimes, but every day, all day. And if there is more we desire then we look at it as a goal we can and will achieve over time and through hard work. Yes, I want a big house with a green lawn, a big yard, a picket white fence, and the family dog. No, I don't have that. But what I do have is a husband who adores me, children who are the sun, moon, and stars to me. And family, all of which are nearby, who love me. I have all that I need and so much more.

I'm by no means perfect. There will be times when money, or the lack there of, will upset me. Frustrate me. But when it does I'll be sure to remind myself how damn lucky I am to be here and have what I have. As for the house, lawn, and dog. I'm getting there.