BY LES McCARTHY
Oct. 29, 2014
Every once in a while, in every one’s life, a little rain must fall. Or, if you live in the NW, a LOT of rain must fall. And, I, for one, am prepared; this former Girl Scout has a handle on it.
Not since I was about seven years old have I felt giddy about rain boots. For more than three decades I lived in the Denver area—land of bluebird skies and 300 days of sunshine (although, realistically, it’s really more like 245 days). Still, it hardly ever rained and I barely ever even used an umbrella, so rain boots would have been a ridiculous purchase.
However, now that I live here, I recently invested in a pair of glossy, coral rain boots and I have been embarrassingly eager to pop them on my waiting feet and go outside and play in a puddle. I’ve been asking Mother Nature to bring it on!
And as silly as it may sound—this was an indulgence for me. A luxury. (Though, I will probably find, as the season progresses, the boots are more of a necessity than not.) I am tickled that I gave myself this gift.
And why not? Life is for living. Indulge a bit! I figure, in the grand scheme of things, it’s the little things in life that bring joy. I don’t buy diamond bracelets or expensive shoes or take monthly cruises. However nice that might be, my luxuries are the small things…like scented soaps or candles, hot cocoa on a cold day or finding the perfect little something for a friend.
But more than anything, I savor the totally luxurious indulgences…the seemingly inconsequential, quasi intangible things like the luxury of time and presence.
Saturday I allowed myself just that. I slept in. The dogs didn’t even wake me and it was well past a “respectable” hour when I finally got up and made tea. I watered plants, ate a biscuit, puttered around the house in pj’s and my robe, until well past noon. It was lovely.
Having a laundry list of things to do (including laundry), I ditched it and grabbed a blended soy latte up the road and dropped in at the Apple Day and Mutt Strut parade at Bayview Corner instead. I caught the end of the canine costume contest—it was a good thing I was not a judge as I would have had them all winners! I liked the Golden Doodle who looked like a lion, best. It was almost unnerving to go up and pet him—he looked so lion-esque—but he was all sweetness. What a face!
I chatted with several owners and got doggie kisses from their costumed companions. I don’t care what Lucy says about “dog breath”—it is fine by me! I’ve got my own four-footers at home but there is nothing so indulgent as being on the receiving end of unconditional loving from a dog that doesn’t know you but greets you like a long lost love, with wild abandon and a full body wag. I’ll never miss the chance to feel like a Hometown Hero if a dog wants to greet me like one!
I strolled the greenhouse of Bayview Farm and Garden Center and lingered among the seasonal pansies, asters and mums…lost in the music of Hot Club of Troy, which was infusing the apple-perfumed air with their magical gypsy jazz. Their music stirred my soul and was like a reward for coming out on such a gloomy day.
I slowly wandered, following the apple scent to the back where cider was being pressed and where tables were laden with baskets of apples. I was told that there were 50 varieties on hand! I had no idea there were so many available—anywhere—let alone in our area. I was given a few samples and then chose the ones I wanted to take home. It was like picking out donuts at a donut shop—but healthier! One of the apples was an Arkansas Black…a crisp, dense fruit so deeply red and perfectly perfect I felt an urge to go find Snow White.
I walked through the back gate, past the chickens cozy in their coop, to the Farmers Market and tucked, into my basket. baby purple artichokes and beautifully miniature eggplant, a striated squash, shiny unblemished onions and a head of Butter lettuce so green and tender it would have made any bunny weep.
I drove home the long way—winding my way down the forested route, past deer munching on apples along the roadside, waiting for that first glimpse of the Passage…the water quiet and steely under a thick blanket of gray clouds.
The rains started as soon as I arrived home. My day, rich with life’s little luxuries, was made even more fabulously lovely when I put on my new boots and the dogs and I ran out to play.
Click HERE to see photos from the Mutt Strut event at Bayview Corner taken by WLM photographer David Welton.
(Photos by Les McCarthy)
Les McCarthy is an author, tutor, life coach and in IPPY bronze medalist for her yearly health and nutrition calendars. She is a recent transplant to the island and is busy loving every glorious moment along with tending to the needs of her voracious local deer and slugs on a daily basis.
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Thank you for the lovely story. My husband I look forward to experiencing it in person.
Love how your writing engages ALL of my senses. Nice job.