A perfect day.

Life is short. Eat the shortcake.

I don’t usually send out posts two days in a row. I don’t want to clog up your inboxes, but I want to tell you about my incredible day. I hope you don’t mind the extra post this week.

I started my morning off with the notification of a GoFundMe contribution (Thank you, Michael!) and some wonderful loving and affirming comments from so many of you. After my Substack ego boost, I decided to try going to the pool for the first time in over a year. When I tried swimming last summer, it spiked my pain so badly that I had to get out after just a few minutes. I tried several times, because swimming is supposed to be easier on the joints than other exercise, but it just didn’t work for me. I was leery when I arrived at the pool today, but I was actually able to water walk for 10 minutes and then spent 10 minutes in the hot tub. I ended up leaving there in less pain than when I arrived. Yay!!!

While I was there, I met a woman named Nancy in the locker room. We chatted about her shirt (Dr. Seuss “Thing 1”) and her cancer story behind it. It was a gift from her son who gave it to her alongside three bright, colorful wigs when she was worried about losing her hair due to chemo. She said it made her and her doctors laugh a great deal when she showed up to her appointment wearing that shirt and a bright red wig. As we chatted, I found out that the other two women in the room were also undergoing cancer treatment, so we talked about that for a bit. As an extrovert who has been very isolated for the last year and half, chatting with a bunch of strangers was a balm to my soul!

Just before I left for the pool, I received a copy of the podcast episode of my Dying To Tell You interview that is going to air next Thursday, October 30th. When I got back from the pool, I tried to take a nap, but I was too amped at the thought of listening to the episode, so after 25 minutes of rest, I gave up on sleeping and listened to the whole episode. It was amazing! I actually made sense! My recollection of the interview was that I struggled with my words, didn’t make sense, and sounded like an angry former Evangelical who got hurt by the church, but it wasn’t that at all. I actually lost myself in the episode so much that I forgot it was me talking for a bit. Voices sound different in our head than they do on a recording, and I got so caught up in the conversation that I forgot I was the one talking.

After listening to the podcast, I decided to make strawberry shortcake, simply because I could. Strawberry shortcake is delicious, and life is short. It made perfect sense that I would make myself some for dinner.

I ran to the store. Okay. I didn’t run. I drove, which was actually very exciting after not being able to drive for over a year. I grabbed some ingredients and then treated myself to a fancy drink on the way home, for free, courtesy of my Microsoft Reward points. Yum, yum! Everything tastes ten times better when it’s free.

When I got home from the store, two packages were waiting for me. One from Shelly Troff and the other from BorderCollieMomSandyY. Shelly sent me some fabulous winter hats and a gorgeous Christmas necklace.

Sandy sent me some fun Fall decor.

Thank you so much to you both! I felt so spoiled, as if Christmas had come early. Of course I had to do a fun photo shoot to share it with you all.

My Corgi Maisie desperately needed me to play ball with her after that, and how can I say know to this gorgeous little face (and her very loud and annoying bark!)?

Today was, by many accounts, a relatively normal day. All of these pieces, however, big and small, weaved themselves together into a perfect day. It is good to be alive.

Becks/Dying Authentically is free. I have chosen not to enable paid subscriptions (click here for my post about why), but if you enjoyed this post and would like to financially support me or my writing, I have set up a Go Fund Me and welcome contributions there.)