Life: Idiotropic

An entire day spent inside my oasis, this little compound sitting, reading, relaxing, and enjoying the last few sips of a bottle of wine we opened on Wednesday night. A day of small pleasures needed after yesterdays drama.

1. An amazingly good wine. I wanted a good wine for Wednesday's company, but the most expensive bottle I could find was only 6 Euros. Yes, I realize that price and flavor aren't always connected, but still, knowing nothing about the local wine, it was all I had to go off of. 6 Euros got me a full-bodied, fruity red reserve from 1999. Delicious. Not to dry, nor sweet. I'd buy another bottle or two just to have around. We finished it tonight. Still good.

2. A book that is easier to finish than begin. Finding time to read is precious but here I've renewed my interest in a book that quite frankly lost me at the last read. The Zookeepers Wife - great story lost in bad writing that, thankfully, is picking up here towards the end.

3. Familiarity. Although I enjoy adventure and never actually eat the pancakes that I cook, it gave me joy to smell the familiar smell of my pancakes and to watch the girls rapidly pick them off the plate. A little taste of home in this new place that just isn't yet.

4. Joy in confidence. Arianna and Luci got out their snorkels and face masks tonight, jumped into the pool, and started swimming really well back and forth confidently. Smiling from ear to ear, excited and joyful. A joy to watch. Infectious energy. Tiara also helped Elise on the noodle until she mastered it paddling herself all over the pool by herself.