"whoever touches us, teaches us....."

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Paints, Canvas and a Day Off

It's my birthday, so it is hard for work to deny me the day off. For that matter, hard for me to deny me the day off. Weekends are usually eaten up laundry, grocery shopping, housecleaning and other mundane chores. It is hard to make time for what you really would like to do with your scarce free time off. I can tick off a list at any time of things I would like to do just for the sake of trying it; some because I have a feeling I would be really good at, others...just a desire to get my hands in it. I want to play with clay, I want to hand finish a piece of wood that I have made into something, I want to make little garden areas that each make you want to stop and rest awhile, I want to wander down to a stream and throw a fly line...the list is endless. But usually the list of things that have to be done overshadows the fun stuff. So for my free time today, I will will not rake leaves (what I should be doing, but really...who are they hurting?), I won't mop the kitchen floor, (no 5 second rule for awhile) and I won't even get out of my pajamas (why waste an outfit). Instead, I will paint. It's not a new activity for me, but it still is a break from the "sit at a desk day" I usually endure during the week. I suspect if I had to earn my living as an artist, I would begin to dream of days in an office, lunches out with coworkers, and being surrounded by thinking people. It's all part of that learning to be happy with what you have, and grateful that we can take a day off on our birthday.

11 comments:

Day Traveler said...

Oh Happy Day!
You're still 29.....right?
Happy B'day baby.
:)

NCmountainwoman said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Indulge, it's your day.

Vietnam Veterans: Brothers Forever said...

Tra la la la la lalala Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen.
There's a lot to be said for Neil Sedaka's songs.

Happy Birthday from Larry's Brother

Anonymous said...

A day spent painting in your PJ's sounds wonderful. Way to go!!

Happy belated birthday. :-)

Anonymous said...

That's exactly as it should have been - you only get one birthday a year. Happy Birthday, belatedly!

Roses and Lilacs said...

I want to add my birthday wish.

I can identify with never having time. I have so many interests and there is never time for them.
Marnie

Anonymous said...

Well, better late than never, but I'm sorry I missed the day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

BrightBoy said...

Happy birthday. Sitting about painting in your pajamas sounds like a great way to spend the day.

You're right about how you'd miss the office if you became an artist; we crave activity and social interaction, and the days off are only made special by the days working.

Enough time spent in sweats and slippers will truly drive you crazy.

bernthis said...

I work out of my home. I've been a "artist" for many years and there are days I would love to have a place to go and see people, talk to them. I haven't had a "real" job in forever. I have no clue what it is like to be an "employee". Lucky? Sometimes. I think your plan sounds perfect.

kats said...

Happy belated birthday, Pat! I never go to the office on mine - this year I spent a big chunk of it in the bookstore. Love it!

We deserve more off days to do fun things. The kind we used to do when we were kids and on vacation from school...

bernthis said...

I just wanted to say hi and check in to see how you are doing.