Seeing the bright side of any situation is the mindset I try to adapt, although I occasionally lose sight of the gratitude attitude.  And, I don’t ignore the fact that I have enough stocked away to still pay my contractors. And I also have a husband who works for corporate America with a, for now anyway, secure job. Please know, I am not bragging. I just realize I do have a lot to be thankful about. 

However, it is still easy to fall into a funk right now, especially if you thrive off interacting with others. I feel compelled to write about my “Best Day Ever” (it’s all about the Best ______ Ever the last few years) since storefronts were locked up and Uber Eats caught fire overnight.

My Tuesday started with an early morning walk and prayer time in the dark with my pups. We prayed for our city, county, state and national leaders, we prayed for the kids, the family, the one who brings home most of the dogfood money, and for people worldwide to see God’s light and turn toward it. Not to go home, of course, but ask for faith instead of adopting fear.

As we headed home, I jumped on a call, which should have ended by 8am. However, once Terry and I  decided now was not the time to schedule a portrait session, we connected on so many levels, our 15-minute call turned into 30. It was a great way to start the day. Our business relationship gets official next week (no, no, no…. Still no pictures). 

And the day was just getting started. Next, I edited images of a beautiful young lady, who wore the brightest of yellows. The color and her smile made the process that much more enjoyable.

Fast forward … post lunch: the dog, just one this time, could use a walk and I could use a break. The cute elderly lady on the corner is planting gorgeous flowers; and it becomes obvious she wants to chat. As sad as it is, I don’t believe we have ever had a conversation, and she’s been in her home for 34 years and we’ve lived in our Plano home (a mere three doors down) for 18! In our defense of not knowing one another: her husband is very protective to the point of scaring the heck out of the guy who trimmed my trees when he accidentally knocked on Mr. H’s door, and the couple ignores the annual barbecue invite.

Better this week than never - we have so much in common. She paints people, I take their pictures. She loves my yard, and I love her landscaping and artistry. Mrs. H’s work is displayed in galleries across the city, and it is my job and honor and privilege as a Cultural Affairs Commissioner to attend art-inspired events. She invited herself over (after we are safe to interact at a closer distance, of course), and I have myself a new friend!!

Honestly, I could have gone to bed at this point with a big-a*% smile on my face, but, nope, it just got better.

A long-time friend of mine called. Unfortunately, the venue where he was scheduled to be married May 17, cancelled. That, of course, was NOT great, but we brain stormed. For the next two hours,  I made it my mission to find an alternative locale so they could at least be official and have a parade of sorts.  They’ll schedule an official celebration later.

In my frenzy of calls, I reconnected with a lady I once met at a Sheep Shower. I can tell you about that later. It was fascinating to learn about her experience of having a baby last week in the midst of what’s happening in the world. And, although she couldn’t provide a location for my friend’s marriage, she, too, brain stormed, coming up with some fabulous options.

And then… I reconnected with yet another lady, who owns a fairy-tale-like Richardson property, which she rents out for Dallas commercial photography, Plano corporate photography and DFW family portrait sessions. And guess what she was doing that day….? Nope. There’s virtually no way you could guess. She was hatching White Bob Quails for the Meadow Nature Preserve in Allen. My friend J’s little hatchlings and I had a Facetime. They were a mere 20 minutes old. Gives me the warm fuzzies thinking about it now.

It’s a little hard to stay on track when I had no clients in front of my camera and no files of editing to be done. Oh well, it was actually refreshing to get off track and get connected and reconnected. 

I’d love to hear about your favorite stay-in-place day.