random thoughts – Day 2,129 (Wednesday) – flippin' day

Morning light.

I was up early enough and also had raised the living room shade in time to see a schmear of pinkish orange across the sky, beyond the power lines and trees and above the roofline of the house across the street as the sun came up. Pretty!

It was a quiet morning in another one of those weeks with appointments. This afternoon it was the regular dental cleaning with the bonus check of the crown done in December and the tooth next to the crown that has been a little needy. It seems that needy tooth has a crack and will also need a crown. Instead of waiting for it to break first, an appointment has been scheduled for March (assuming it doesn’t shatter before then). It looks like the first contestant in the “2026 expenditures likely to wipe out yet another vacation” contest has entered the arena. So exciting. 

On the way to the dentist, there was time to visit a nearby consignment shop. There were many sequin dresses on a rack labeled “Formal Dresses” and another of “Holiday Dresses” and of course I touched most of them, like I have done forever, which used to prompt Mom to ask why I had to touch everything. Well, if things don’t feel nice, I don’t want them and if I don’t touch them, how will I know?

One time, when I was maybe 10 or 11, I was with Mummu shopping in Parke Snow’s in downtown Fitchburg. The magnetic pull of sequins drew me to a long rack of elegant beaded and sparkling gowns suitable for the Policemen’s Ball or a beauty pageant. Mummu came to guide me away and said, “It’s important to keep children away from sequins so they don’t grow up to be gaudy.” I wonder what she would think of my closet now with its collection of sequin jackets, pants, tops, and hats.

After fondling the sequins, I went to the dentist office. It’s up a medium-length driveway off a very busy street, with a mini-plaza on the right side of the driveway and the dental office to the left. The mini plaza has a cannabis dispensary, a hair salon, and a pediatric dentist. 

A car came zipping out of the mini plaza, not slowing before taking the left turn into the right of way and I very nearly t-boned it but luckily, I was driving an appropriate driveway speed and was quick with the brake. I gave the other driver the “two hands up, WTF dude” gesture and he responded with an angry faced two hands up gesture as if I had pulled out in front of him instead of the other way around. So, I flipped him the finger. Not classy, I know, but according to recent news reports, presidential.

Walk for Peace.

Tonight, I watched the live feed of the evening Peace Sharing Talk with the Buddhist monks on the 2,300 mile Walk for Peace from Fort Worth, TX to Washington DC. The intent of the monks is "to raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world." 

The monks arrived in Charlotte, NC today, day 82 of their journey. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be ready to meet the day with the monks' wishes for mindfulness and peace, and not get all torqued up and flip off drivers who don't obey traffic rules and the right of way. We'll see.