Reveling in the Pleasure of Small Things

Outside my window, I hear rumbling and thumping and clattering–a cacophony of sounds. Work crews are digging up the streets to install new water pipes.

One could be annoyed by all that noise. Or, one could be reveling in the pleasure of small things.

Because, you see, it’s fascinating to watch–a virtual three-ring circus of activity.

And it became a theater for the grandkids. Little N loves toy trucks, bulldozers, shovels, and diggers, and he knows the names of all the equipment. So we invited the kids to watch from our front stairs. It was a Playmobil construction set come to life!

The Pleasure of Small Things: FaceTime

Another source of immense pleasure is FaceTime. Miss T calls me on her mom’s iPad–usually because she’s bored. She’ll show me whatever she’s working on, whether it’s a new bracelet she’s made or her latest drawings.

Little N usually joins in to say hello and adds some commentary. Last time he sang me a medley of songs.

While we used to see the grandkids for dinner once a week before the pandemic, now I speak with Miss T more frequently. And these calls, often running a half hour before bedtime, give me more quality one-on-one time with her than ever before.

Over the weekend, I was cleaning my fridge when I heard the familiar FaceTime ring. I continued to work while Miss T and I talked, making my chore more enjoyable.

I think this connection is a remnant of our virtual Camp Grandma program this past summer. Miss T has gotten used talking to me online, instead of in person, and I’m glad she reaches out as often as she does.

Sourdough Baking

Another pleasure is my sourdough starter. I’ve never wanted the burden of feeding a starter each week, but with all my friends baking extraordinary sourdough breads and posting to social media, I joined them in bread baking a few months ago.

Now we’re having home-baked sourdough baguettes, crumpets, pancakes, English muffins and more. I used to bake on a whim–just when I felt like it; now it’s part of everyday life.

The Pleasure of Small Things Online

During the Spanish flu, it would have been a lot easier for people to cope if they had had the technology we enjoy today. We may be hunkered down, but we aren’t isolated.

We can still see and speak with our family through meeting apps, we can watch movies online, borrow library e-books, listen to podcasts, order takeout, and shop for anything we could ever need or want without having to set foot in a bricks-and-mortar store.

And there are so many ways to expand our horizons online.

• I subscribe to Creative Bug for craft project ideas.
• I have a Zoom account, and recently hosted a gathering with my cousins from Kona to Kansas City. And I’ll be using Zoom for our Thanksgiving this year so we can eat our family dinner together and play Thanksgiving games.

• I use my Cricut machine to make greeting cards; it’s invaluable since I can’t just run out to the store as readily as I used to when an occasion that requires a card arises. And I have fun creating them.
• I’ve rediscovered embroidery having taught Miss T during a Camp Grandma session.

What are the small things that are keeping you going?

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