Sunday, November 7, 2010

Social media is what the information world is all about these days, but I watched something very basic, and very comforting today, that reminded me of the power of real human connection.

My living room has a picture window and late in the afternoon I sat down for a brief break from chores to enjoy the view of the fading day. Across the street, a red truck pulled in to my neighbors' driveway. Everyone got out and the younger folks dropping off my older neighbors stayed to chat briefly. Conversation, hugs all around and the kids drove off.

What struck me was the connection and the communication: The wrapping up of the day in the driveway at the end of an obviously nice afternoon, the warm body language.

No Facebook or any kind of online connection will ever replace the social bonds of spending time with people you love and like. There is nothing nicer than spending a dinner hour or a long weekend, cooking, eating, talking, walking with the people who occupy your heart.

So, I had coffee with a good friend this morning and wandered about the little mall we met at after. There is an Anthropologie store there, which I love to wander in just for the design. How cool is it to use embroidery circles as a design feature? Pretty darn. The picture is of a dress with a scarf. That I would have loved to have bought. Perhaps after Christmas!

Monday night musing

Pilates is my new best friend. I took a class last week at my gym; it was tremendous. I will never have to lift weights again. Second class was today and I am still feeling it, in a good way. My friend Ellen loves it because its like yoga, except speeded up. And without all the weirdness. I've tried yoga twice and just can't get into it. So this is perfect until (slight pause for wry ironic expression) I get bored and look for something else. My Dad's mother had it right when she (so I've been told) described me as "bright, but easily bored." What a winning combination!

Ellen and I had dinner with Virginia tonight to celebrate Virginia's birthday at a nice restaurant on the South Side, Bruschetta's. White linen table cloths and napkins, tables nicely spaced, good service and food and no piped-in music, just right for dinner conversation. For as much of the town as I saw today, namely Downtown and the South Side, it seemed as if there was a collective Saint Patrick's Day hangover from the weekend, with everyone resting up for the real thing tomorrow. It's not my bag, but it sure seems to make a lot of people  happy, or at least crazed.

I like what Seattle does: it has a Saint Patrick's Day run. I think I'd rather do that than drink green beer.

Ellen drove me home and we talked on the way -- she has a rough few months ahead of her. Quick hug before I got out of the car and as I walked up the driveway, she rolled down her window and called my name. I turned around and she had a big smile on her face.

"We really are lucky, aren't we," she said.

Friends you choose, but family's a crapshoot. So I think I've hit the karma lottery, because I was born into a great family. Today's photograph is of my Dad and me, when I was just a few months old. Daddy was the family photographer, so I'm guessing my Mom snapped this. His mother, who was just grand,  supplied the succint description of me above.