walking the three leaf clover

Today is a great day. I love starting off my day taking a brisk walk around Lake Ella. Today I noticed that there is a small line of small trees around the lake and that across the street there are a larger group of trees that line the street. It is interesting to me that I haven’t really noticed the difference in trees. In fact, I haven’t noticed a lot of things lately. Mostly because I have been walking around with my head down. I missed the fact that that there are three fountains around the lake. I knew there were fountains, I just never thought about them collectively. I’ve never really thought much about the shape of the lake itself either. I pondered today, if I were to take a birds eye view from above the lake what shape would I see? I think it might be shaped like a three leaf clover. Interesting. As I walk along I begin to think about the diversity of people that walk around the lake, so many different social and cultural groups are represented. Here all these various groups gather around this beautiful water garden if you will and just for once the diversity isn’t the dividing line, they are part of what makes the place such an enchanting mosaic. It is just beautiful. So many ducks and turtles, how do they all sustain life around so much human commotion?

It is 6 tenths of a mile around the lake, so I usually go at least 5 laps around so that I know that I have made at least a 3 mile effort of the morning. Around the lake there is an American Legion Hall that is used for all sorts of events, a locally owned coffee house, and then there is a cluster of cottages that have been converted into small shops. Everything from gifts to yo-yo’s are represented by these little shops. It really is an amazing little place. The thing I like most about the little shops is that they are all so unique and cozy; there isn’t an air of pretentiousness about these quaint shops. It is really very refreshing. My wife has said over and over she would love to have a little vintage shop in there one day. And I completely agree with her on that, I hope that one day we will have a spot where we can add to the cozy corner of Lake Ella. It would just be grand to live, work, and play, near the park at Lake Ella.

stickers and colored pencils

Sometimes things start coming together even when you don’t know how they are going to all work out. Mostly, I think I have given up trying make stuff happen and just make the most out of what comes my way. I think I might be closer to living a life bent towards Providence than towards possessions and prestige. I struggle though sometimes knowing that the identity is gone. I may have severely under estimated the rebuilding process for living a life.

Today was great, after I left my consulting session; I went to my youngest daughter’s school and met with her teacher to discuss her progress. I was so disappointed with all the structure of learning geared toward these “state standards,” trying to have an open mind about it, I did see the merit in learning to build a foundation of how to read. I think my daughter has a good teacher and I think she enjoys school for the most part. I really enjoyed being present at the parent teacher meeting. I can’t even remember being present or going to one for my oldest girls. What a shame I missed out on those. When I came home, my oldest asked if I would help her with a school project and my attitude was genuinely glad to help. Later we had to go get more supplies. We had planned to only go to one stop, but it ended up being a three-store stickers and colored pencils trip. I really didn’t mind. On the way home she thanked me and said she really appreciated me taking her to get her supplies and that she actually enjoyed the time together and that was the highlight of my day.