a view

so, I go to see a movie again

I can't recommend it, so I'm not going to tell you what it was
.

a little later, once home, I sat in the swing seat in the courtyard. . .
.

. . .there had been some early summer rain during the evening - you know, the sort that smells of thunder and drops out of the sky in big dollops, a little like melted icecream - and the seat was wet, but I didn't care
.

as I sat in the damp dark little courtyard - lit only by the twinkles of the fairy lights that I have twisted around the narrow trunks of the olive trees that the previous owners left behind, and in and out of the window box of herbs I have on a sill - I reflected on how fortunate I am, how much I have to be thankful for. . .

.
. . .my children, all healthy; their love; a roof over our head and food on our plates; friends - theirs and mine (mostly you lovely lot)
.

the going to see a movie provoked a conversation about a book and I discussed with The Teen how sometimes one has to go against one's initial thoughts, feelings and ideas about a situation or experience in order to be able to have a view
.

whether that view ends up being positive or negative
.

how can you say you do or do not like something, unless you have experienced it?
.

obviously this statement precludes a wide variety of aspects of life, so perhaps I am only referring to the arts - yes, I think I'm only referring to the arts
.

and, perhaps, love
.

choosing a situation, experiencing a situation, when one might love or be loved, or not, say
.

not knowing the outcome of a situation or experience until one has made the decision, going with or against one's initial thoughts, feelings and ideas
.

I'm rambling
.

I once read a book I didn't want to read, in order to have a view
.

but most of life is not that simple
.

I wish, for you, dear reader,
friends and relatives,
love,
a roof and food
.
not necessarily in that order

.
XXX