There’s always a bright side, right?

The political news in Arkansas begs to differ with me on that point, but I’m doing my best to focus on brighter, happier topics. Some moments it works, other moments it doesn’t. I don’t fully recognize the state I grew up in anymore. I don’t understand how we possibly elected these people. I could rant, oh could I rant. And I have. I probably will again. But I won’t now, here.

So here’s the bright side. White flowers covering the ground. Jane’s super long white legs in shorts. Her crystals in the patio planter, and the rosemary plant’s purple blooms. Our little apartment.  Laughter at bath time. The pansies she poaches from the flower bed and leaves underneath the rain spout for the “fairy bathtub.” Pink sunsets. Phone calls with my sisters. Dandelions. Flotsam and his weird little beady face that makes perfect eye contact whenever we enter the room. Pot roasts after work. Weekends with my parents. Co-workers I like. Writing projects that keep me up late. My love, who is traveling to see us as I type this.

So while it may seem the world is going to hell in a hand basket (or for us Arkansans, a seemingly back-in-time hillbilly hand basket), there’s always a bright side. Like voting. Like speaking out. Like protesting. And picking some flowers, taking a deep breath, and playing a card game with my sweet girl.

There are so many bright sides. And I’m going to focus on them.

 

This girl turns four soon. I can hardly believe it. It seems just yesterday I was crying like a baby while watching National Velvet and thought to myself, “Huh, something’s off.” And that something was a positive pregnancy test. Being her mom has exceeded every expectation I ever had.

There’s a lot happening these days. We’re experiencing our regular bi-polar spring where we’re turning on the air conditioner one day and digging the coats back out the next. But the good news is the daffodils are blooming. The mourning doves are cooing.

Every day after work we check the mail and Jane screams by the pool, “The water will be warm soon and I’m gonna swim in there!!!” In case any of the neighbors wondered.

I got the opportunity to write an article about my college dormitory for Only In Arkansas. You can read it here if you like a spooky story.

Fayez is coming to visit us soon. It’s been two months since we’ve seen him, and to say I’m ready to see his face is an understatement.

So spring, so far, gets an A+ from me.

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