Life's Candy

I haven't written in a couple of weeks because I have a lot on my mind and things have been generally crazy.  School is more stressful than I remember it being in a while, mostly for reasons that have very little or nothing to do with me or my ability to do my job.  Somehow that makes it more annoying, not less.  The thought that recurrently runs through my head isn't "I clearly have no control over this, so I should step back and concentrate on other things." That would be the rational thing to say to oneself.  Instead, it's "why can't I fix this? And this? And this and this?!" In all likelihood, this feeling will continue for an undetermined length of time, and that is unfortunate.

But for now I am on vacation and that is wonderful in many ways.  I am home to enjoy the open space of the backyard, the exuberance of the many dogs, and the company of my family.  This particular vacation is also turning out to be the time when I handle a myriad of random and obnoxious "housekeeping" tasks, another source of mild anxiety surging.  As I deal (badly) with car trouble, portfolio chaos, the wrong maid of honor dress, and the absurdity of a $500 change fee to alter my honeymoon plans to exclude Tokyo, I am immensely grateful that it's spring break.  I have the time to call the airline and wait an hour (or three) for them to call me back.  I can bug my well-connected uncle to help me get my car fixed rather than dropping it at some random mechanic in Crooklyn Brooklyn.  The fact that all the extra stress has piled on now rather than during a regular school week is a grand and glorious blessing.  It also really helps that I am breathing fresh air, getting hugs from family every day, and watching my Lola snooze the day away after a morning of running around in the drizzling April rain.  It's the little things, people.

Barbara says it best.  As always.