Joy in a box
A small box arrived in the mail today, containing these two ink bottles. They have travelled all the way from the UK, to Toronto, to Vancouver Island. A long journey to bring joy to my writing experience.
I am not sure when inks for fountain pens started to really be a thing. When you could choose between dozens of really good brands, in hundreds of colours. When you would look forward to loading up multiple fountain pens with a selection of fabulous colours, each being its own luscious experience. It hasn’t always been like this.
Wonderpens.ca in Toronto, is my go to place for inks because they sell TESTER sizes, so you can try an ink out and see if it’s a keeper, or just a passerby. These two inks are certainly keepers in my world.
Ancient Copper and Damson join my other two favourites, Twilight and Dark Forest in my Diamine ink line up. And new to the team, Noodler’s Ink “54th Massachusetts”, which is a demin blue, very nice.
Such a simple, yet deep pleasure.
“I have reached an age where I no longer feel the need
to explain myself.”
This was a thought that came to me while getting in the car to go grocery shopping. It was spurred on by my last trip to the grocery store, where a man seemed offended that I was choosing to buy filtered water.
As he passed by me in the water aisle, he looked back and said, “I don’t understand why people buy water when we have the third best water quality in Canada.” And then he kept going.
He didn’t want me to tell him why I was buying the water. He wanted to scold me for doing it.
Surprisingly, I was not offended or upset by him, just confused. Why does he even care about my water purchasing choices? I don’t know and I don’t need to know. Same as he doesn’t need to know why I buy my water from the grocery store.
What Now?
Each day I check in with myself and the forces that guide my world, to see where I am being asked to put my energy. Some days feel more accomplished than others, but I know they are all part of something I am not able to see. There is a BIG PICTURE, which is hidden from view, but being orchestrated in the most magical of ways.
As I am working my way back to a full work schedule and income flowing back in, I am reminded, pretty much on a daily basis, of the magic that is happening out of my sight line.
EXAMPLE: Last Wednesday I took our car in for an oil change, knowing that there was a small oil leak coming from the oil pan. Well, it turns out, the leak was larger and more sinister than was first thought. The Head Gasket is gone, which means an engine rebuild. Translated that means thousands of dollars … followed by another list of things our vehicle was going to need. Well, she is 15 years old, so it is not unexpected … but the timing was a wee bit stressful.
I knew there was no need to panic, the mechanic said I have a few months of left in it. But I still didn’t know how I was going to pay for a replacement.
As I shared my sad story with some close friends, I found out one was wanting to change vehicles, and her 3 year old car would be for sale. She offered me a good price, and the car would be a good fit for our future needs.
Then, the inevitable issue of paying for it. No income means no financing. It was going to have to be savings … which I hate taking from, especially after my 9 weeks of no work. Savings are very comforting.
In times like these, trust, faith, courage to not panic and a belief in magic, all play a role in having things work out in the most unique ways. And so they have. A wonderful financial gift from an unexpected source has been bestowed upon me, and it has lifted fifty thousand pounds of stress and the unknown off my shoulders. I am grateful and humbled by the love and support. My belief in magic and the forces orchestrating it all, are once again affirmed.
All of this is less than a week!
photo by Wendy Morisseau
Wow. What a wonderful selection of stories you have shared Sarah and such wisdom. Congratulations on the new car! She is your new Miracle?
Thanks Beth!
We are indeed living in the mystery especially these days.
Dancing in the possible is a good idea.
And playing in wonder is excellent advice!
I have a sign that I bought at the old St. Joseph’s hospital: When in doubt, turn up the music and dance. You probably didn’t mean literally dancing … but that’s possible too 🙂
I’m glad your week brought you joy!!!
And yes, dancing is very good too!!!!
Sarah, what a beautiful story of how the universe can rearrange things in a way we would never have conceived! Congratulations on a newer vehicle! And on the peace of mind too. 🙂
Have fun playing with your inks! I know how much joy these little treasures bring you (like me and my beads!).
And as for the man with an opinion, it does seem like too many folks feel entitled to share their opinion as often as possible, and especially if it’s contrary to another person’s opinion. I think a societal return to “mind your own business” might be a good thing!
I am feeling blessed and cared for in new ways each day, and this feeling is quite wonderful!!