Reflecting on my past : Day 85 #100daysofwriting

Once upon a time, ten years ago, I worked shifts in a retail store. One week early, one week late. It was a fun time of life. 

At that time I was dating a professional skateboarder-slash-model with a flexible schedule. He used to say that he loved how I always had my beach umbrella in the boot. I remember working a late shift with sea sand in my ears because I'd rolled into work straight from the beach.

How is it that I earned so little and worked so much, yet I was so happy. Have I forgotten something? Was it all that sunshine? The boy? Or the utter lack of serious responsibility?

I sometimes hanker for those store days. Where I'd hang out with my friends while we folded shirts with military precision. Chatting up customers (that's actually how I met the skater) and competing for sales. Merchandising clothes.

Strange how I now choose and develop stock for those stores now. I've been with the company for 11.5 years already. Can you even believe that?

Back to care free and happy. I think it's the sunshine... I need more beach this summer...

Innocence Revisited : Day 37 #100daysofwriting

I had such a lovely day today with family who are visiting CT. I think the highlight was hanging with my 3 year old cousin. (In the broad sense of cousin, think cousin's kid scenario)

I love that age and really wonder if my inner child didn't stop growing at 3. So much to learn and say and see.

We explored the garden. I tried to teach her the names of certain plants - like "black-eyed Susan" - and showed her how to identify ripe gooseberries, although she was very into picking green ones just to show me that they weren't ripe. We checked out bunnies and fish. We stood quietly to hear the birds in the trees. We laughed a lot.

We even went for a beach walk which was very exciting and a total work out of me! I think we could have both been inducted into The Ministry of Funny Walks! We twirled. We ate ice cream. We held hands.

And at the end of the day? She'd learnt to say "Are you crazy?"  and not a single plant name. I'm still proud.

As a side note there were many adults around too, deep conversations were had, but I got to have a toddler play date and it made my day. xxx