wimmhtw* 3.8

1. My work anniversary is this week, and I still had a little over 5 hours of time off to use up, so Friday I was hardly working. I came home early and enjoyed some macaroni and cheese and cat snugs on the sofa. It was a relaxing afternoon, which I dearly needed. Any extra kitten time is a bonus.

2. We had bad storms late Friday night, like midnight thunderstorms coming through, tornado sirens going off. We sat in front of the television watching our favorite local weather team (KMBC, Bryan Busby and team) letting us know just where the danger was. We were pretty safe the whole time, but I also felt better knowing there was a basement just steps away. The fact that we waterproofed the basement just last year also helped ease my mind about water getting in. At the end of the storm, we had no tornadoes in our area (there was an EF-0 not too far away), so we were very lucky. I am grateful that we were prepared for the bad weather. That’s really all we can control.

3. Yesterday was my Aunt Peggy’s birthday. She died last December, two days before Christmas, so this was the first year she wasn’t here for me to celebrate with her. No presents to buy, no cards to send, no calls or texts or social media callouts, just warm memories tinged with sadness. I wish I could tell her once more how much she meant to me and how much I miss her. I wish I had cooked with her more. I wish I could go shopping with her again, or watch a movie, or just sit on the deck and look out over the lake. But I am also thankful for the time I had with her. For the meals, the laughter, the love. Remembering her spirit, her hospitality, her strength—that makes me happy.

*what is making me happy this week