Magic Day

August 11th was not an ordinary Tuesday. It's ironic that a day that began horribly ended with me writing now from my cozy bed with a complete sense of fulfillment and peace. And it was because of everything that happened in between then and now that caused my dear friend Monica and I to call it "Magic Day."

And maybe I am guilty of naively embracing the "glass is half full" mentality, but I genuinely consider this morning's upset, proof that everything really does happen for a reason. If my life's story had a title, that saying would be it.

So there I was leaving the work parking lot in tears at 9:30 in the morning, headed home. And despite my hurt and distress, I kind of got the same feeling I had when my sister and I were dreading another schoool day at Salpointe only to arrive with teachers lined up around the school flagging everyone to turn around and go home--the electricity was out. You know, it's the feeling you can get playing hooky if you can overcome the guilt, when, on a Tuesday, you find yourself in your pajama's on the couch watching morning shows on T.V. you never knew exisited. Days that are filled with this enormous sense of possibility!

After working off my emotional energy by scrubbing down the bath tub and getting some other stuff done around the house, I decided to make lemonade out of lemons with my day. And lemonade was what I got.

I took the opportunity to spend some time with a girlfriend who has sadly been neglected as a result of my working all the time. I got to hold and kiss Millie Moo when I picked up Monica and delight in the way her little nose wrinkles and her eyes sparkle when she smiles. We had afternoon tea at Chantilly which I happened to have a buy one get one coupon for, I got my make-up done at MAC for free and bought amazing products all with a giftcard which was extra magical because I didn't have to spend a penny. I got a new beautiful shirt with ruffles that made me smile and a matching silk headband at the Limited for $10. Everything I wanted just happened to be on sale. That never happens! (If you're wondering how I managed to get so much stuff for so little, stay tuned! The magic of savings and coupons and shopping deals and tips will be outlined in a future post!) I got a free panty at Victoria's Secret, I put a quarter in a bubblegum machine and got TWO gumballs. I sat in a massage chair for a dollar, tried on sparkly rings, (you know, "just in case") and learned more than I could have imagined about diamonds. Oh, and to top it off, the "umbrella woman" was sipping tea by herself in the tea room in a red and black victorian gown with satin gloves! Anyone who has lived on the Northwest side of Tucson for a few years knows exactly who I am talking about. And finally, indulged in a fabulous cup of ice cream from Swenson's. Not to mention, the gut-busting laughter shared between the two of us all day.

Re-reading the last paragraph, I realize, it really doesn't seem all that magical. But trust me, you just had to be there.

The truth is, there is magic in every single day if we would just stop to take time to notice it. I found out all the stuff that we miss when we are at work. Of course, I am not proposing that we should all quit our day jobs and head for the mall. Lord knows, in this economy, we are lucky to have any job much less one we are passionate about. But, if it is any consolation, if you happen to become another unemployed statistic for Obama to worry about, have faith that there are great things that can come your way that money could never buy. So while we all wait out this economy, let's go for more walks when another beautiful Arizona morning comes our way. Visit your local library and curl up on the couch with a book that inspires you. Play with your kids, check things off your to-do list, reorganize and simplify your life. None of these things cost money. And be thankful for the people in our lives who make us laugh. Because at the end of the day, what else really matters? Afterall, I work to live, not the other way around.