What really matters

 

The past week has been one of emotional turmoil filled with disrespectful, rude, unappreciative and selfish people. The world is filled with those kinds of people and attitudes and I do my best to steer clear of them. Unfortunately, the past couple of days have really taken its toll on me. I haven't blogged in quite a while which is upsetting because it's the last day of my birthday month and I have done some really fantastic things over the last 30 days that I need to share!

 

In light of recent events, I felt as if I needed to step back and purposely focus on what really matters in life. It's not the nonsense going on at work (even if I do spend the majority of my waking hours there). It's not the fact that the idiot who screwed up my stump grinding from the tree that was removed in my front yard is still making my front yard look like the rest of the neighborhood (not a good thing in case you're wondering). It's not the fact that people don't understand me when I speak and write plain English (they are the fools, not me). It's not traffic or someone cutting me off at a red light. It's not the neighborhood kids taking rocks out of my yard to weigh down their basketball hoop stand (at least they are playing basketball and not breaking into houses).

 

No, what's important in life, what really matters, are the simple things.

The simple things that I have always had and clung on to because they are what get me through this crazy life.  The simple things that I love which made me start this blog in the first place.

 

 

Here are just a few:

Spending a beautiful afternoon with three of my favorite people at my favorite Virginia winery, Otium, and then lunch at Magnolia's at the Mill, in Purcellville.

 

 

 

My parents, my two best friends

a refreshing and beautiful Chardonnay

Enjoying a Pinot Noir that isn't from Oregon but from Virginia

Being silly by being ourselves and loving each other just the same because that's what good friends do

Virginia wine owners who make amazing German-inspired reds

living like nothing else matters at that very moment

the road less traveled

beautiful, yet simple, architecture



escaping in the beauty of nature



seeing an abandoned house and envisioning how wonderful it could really be



Celebrating my birthday lunch and being surprised with a personalized version of the day's menu

sharing incredible food - like cheese and fried green tomatoes...and

melt-in-your-mouth gorgonzola ravioli.. and

 

smoked chicken papardelle with argula and mushrooms ... and 

 

 chocolate... yes, chocolate. Chocolate always matters

 

 

 

 

"A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou."

- Omar Khayyam

being able to drink local wine purchased that day with no cork fee at Magnolia's

What matters most of all to me? 

Yep, love.

Unconditional love

I'm fortunate to have that love in my life.



 



Love from a good friend and from my parents

Whiskey matters also, especially rye whiskey from Catoctin Creek Distillery in Purcellville

and whiskey cocktails....

 



and whiskey sipping with my dad in honor of my grandfather

 

 

Yeah, what really matters is what happened on Saturday, September 20, not this nonsense that I have let take over my thoughts and my spirit the last couple of days.

 

What matters is good friends, family, wine, food, nature and the freedom to love and be who I want to be when I want to be and where I want to be with those I want to be.

 

 Not everything in life is perfect or the way I want it that is for sure.

 But as long as I don't lose sight of what really matters in life, I'll be just fine.

 

 

 

 

"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life." ~Rachel Carson