Small Pleasures

This week's reading is "The Elegance of the Hedgehog." Somehow, in my Amazon book-buying madness, I stumbled on a few French gems. A few days ago, with goosebumps up and down my arms and a delightful tickle in my brain (wonderful sentences have that effect), I took in "Death From the Woods" by Brigitte Aubert. It seems to be out of print in English; I had read a few chapters in speech therapy--my therapist just used whatever reading material was at hand--and the Portuguese prose was so curious I had to track down an English version. Well worth it. But as I was saying, I am reading this book by Muriel Barbery. Right now, I'm on a bit about camellias and moss and small, savored pleasures. As today started out fabulously and then petered out after about 4 pm, I needed to take stock of small pleasures to put things aright again.

So, while ignoring the sweat dripping down my back as I hauled a Christmas ham, cleaning supplies, enough fruit for a small orchard and a dozen eggs three blocks to my apartment, I observed:

-a single raindrop that fell !plop! onto my lower lip like a stolen kiss

-white orchids adorning the trees lining the street, little flags that wave in
the wind

-a child's adorable lisping of Portuguese

-one really fantastic pair of seafoam green sandals with an intricate leather flower over the foot

-recognizing strangers--a sure sign you're part of the neighborhood!