fondness

Looking across the room at the lovely patgreene after a satisfying dinner (home) and long talk over coffee (nearby). We are starting to talk about our individual perspectives on some of the changes (good ones and painful ones together) over the past few years. We've each been in some pretty desolate places, emotionally. We must love each other a great deal, and have had a lot of perseverence, and just been blessed (or lucky) to still be together. I owe her... more than I'll ever be able to repay, certainly. She understates herself and her virtues, too. I'm very happy that she's in my life.

(smile across room, shield laptop from her gaze)

otherwise, I'm sunburned from a day spent mostly outdoors with the kids... ice skating, then two different baseball practices, then bike repair, then a bit of work at home. But I made a scarily-good shrimp etouffee with rice tonight (just the two of us for a candlelit dinner) with fresh bread and salad. No dessert, since it's Lent and I haven't yet decided on a discipline.

patgreene calls, cuddling awaits, I'm out of here (grin)...

(no subject)

Hmmm... sometimes, being reliably woken at 6:45am by the kids has compensating advantages ;-).

Lent

The Lenten season is, for Christians, a time for self-reflection, introspection and change. Working on one's own stuff, and contemplating greater truths. Attitude adjustment. Observantly, one embraces some added discipline during the season, not out of some self-abnegating impulse but as a focus and means of facilitating reflection. Traditionally this has included self-denial disciplines (like forgoing favorite consumables or recreational activities) and/or active disciplines (getting up for morning exercise, volunteering or charitable acts, study).

I know that one of my own issues is that I'm counter-suggestive, wary of trusting others regarding myself and bridling against anything that faintly smacks of control. I tend to (slightly arrogantly) presume that I know what's best for me, more than any external individual or group.

So, at patgreene's suggestion, I'm going to choose a Lenten focus -- by not choosing it myself. Leaving it in others' hands, some of whom I've never met in person. A meta-level discipline, in effect. First I'll ask for suggestions, then in a couple of days post a poll, then be bound by the results until April.
[Poll #110855]