Me and My Old Men

I began my birthday morning with several options in mind to celebrate. Jon had offered to send me to a spa all day but it just didn't make me feel celebratory to know I was a year older and then spend it getting, what could be considered, a repair job. I also thought I might suffer from flashbacks of the spray tan experience I had in December.

I knew that  I wanted to feel like I hadn't a single care all day. That was a gift in itself. With that in mind I began in one of my favorite stores, Pottery Barn, where I rarely buy anything but spend about $30,000 in my mind. I strolled and lingered through the store without a care. I looked at items I liked once and twice and would even return for a third look. I bought a candle and candlestick. The experience fit the criteria for my celebration... I hadn't a care.

Next stop was Barnes and Noble. I have heard of this "lounging in the store" experience and thought I might enjoy it. I began in the photography book section and pulled a large stack off the shelves, found a chair to plop myself down in and sat amongst the old men. There were a lot of older men and while we  sat and read and dreamed,  it was like the world went away. I read, took notes, put books back and began in a new section of the store. It was remarkably quiet, calm and soothing all afternoon. There was one minor disruption in the day. One of the old men began to snooze and snore a little, but I just found a new section, new books and a new group of old guys to sit around. I stayed in that peaceful and blissful place for close to three hours.

It was a fabulous day.
ahhhhhh.