Eat Dessert First

I often have a bad day. It may start out okay and then disintegrate or else it begins horribly and continues on without improvement. Sometimes it is something small that sets me off. Sometimes it is a major issue that makes a bad day last for weeks.

If life were always pleasant, then we wouldn’t enjoy the wonderful days nearly so much. If every day was a good day, then we wouldn’t even notice it. But since some days are not so good, the good days are sweeter.

I have been trying to find some good in each day. Some days it is much easier. Like Sunday. I have been looking for cherries in the grocery store each time I go. And I have the unparalleled pleasure of going two to three times per week. Since moving south, I have missed blueberries one season and barely noticed that corn was out before it was almost gone. The growing seasons are different.

So I have been hunting cherries. And they were not in the stores on Thursday, I looked. No cherries. But on Sunday, there were cherries. First store I was at they were $6 a pound. I didn’t want cherries that badly. I knew I was going to another store later and figured they sure couldn’t be more expensive. And lo and behold, at the next store they were $3 a pound. I bought two bags.

I had already bought a watermelon at the first store. Cantaloupes were really cheap at the second store. I bought it all. But I am never really sure how to check a melon to find out if I am buying something edible or not. I just pick one up and hope. I was really lucky. Both melons were sweet and juicy and wonderful.

I was enjoying the fruits of my labor. I love puns, too. When my day went horribly wrong. A neighbor was camping with his teenage sons. He also had another neighbor’s son with him. He was usually an early riser. The kids couldn’t wake him in the morning. He suffered an apparent heart attack. I feel terrible for him, for his sons, for the neighbor kid. He was healthy, worked out, took care of himself. It is sad to know that we truly just never know.

Instead of looking for the things that make my day bad. Instead of counting my irritations, I think I will make more of an effort to count my blessings. I know that my life is good. I have a wonderful family. I have my health. I have my freedom.

I have cherries, they came in on Sunday.