The Simplest of Pleasures: One Good Thing That Is

Redeem The time. Redeem the unread vision in the higher dream. . .


- T. S. ELIOT

Some days are shaped by simple pleasures, others are redeemed by them.

Today-a beautiful summer's day at the beach-was shaped by joyful simplicities. Idylls on a screened porch, roaming in interesting shops, an after-­noon on the shore with family and friends, irresistible reading, confidences exchanged while the waves lap at ankles, an ice--cream cone for lunch, strolling the boardwalk, playing amusement park games, winning a prize. Then back to the house, a refreshing outdoor shower, cocktails and conversation, the conviviality of cooking dinner with a dear friend, an abun­dance of delicious food, delightful wine, laughter, and good cheer-and so to bed, happily.

An Irish proverb tells us "Better one good thing that is, rather than two good things that were, or three good things that might never come to pass." Today there was no need to glance wistfully at the past or project anxious­ly into the future because the present was fully lived and simply abundant. Today was rich with one good thing after another until it literally over­flowed with pleasure.

But not all my days are beach sojourns. Not too long ago, an eight A.M. phone call announcing a major change in plans sent my day careening out of control. I hung up the telephone, my heartbeat accelerating. In one stroke, my carefully arranged coping strategy was out the window and my host of commitments had been made almost unmeetable. This was too much, I thought, as I paced back and forth, muttering and moaning under my breath. I had three choices before me, but only one real-life solution:

Scream with rage at the top of my lungs, put my head in the toilet, or take a deep breath and redeem the day with Plan B.

Since I have an understanding in my home not to do anything that might alarm children or animals, screaming was out. The toilet bowl was out as well. If you're really going to drown yourself, you can't do it in a bucket of water. So 1 poured myself a cup of tea and recalled the Hasidic prayer, "I know the Lord will help-but help me Lord, until You help."

The reality was that the day would be as hard as I made it. Or as pleas­ant. There was nothing 1 could do about my circumstances but accept them. "It's always my choice," I reminded myself. Not necessarily to like whatev­er life throws at me, but to try to catch the ball. After all, success in life is not how well we execute Plan A; it's how smoothly we cope with Plan B. And for most of us, that's 99 percent of the time.

I considered Plan B: redeem the day with simple pleasures, some good things to look forward to. At first, learning to smoothly shift gears to Plan B takes some attitude adjustment, but, like driving a car, it becomes an automatic reflex with practice.

First I took my tea out into the garden to calm down. I pulled a few weeds, picked some flowers. After arranging them, I looked at cookbooks. Should I prepare something new for dinner tonight or a comforting favorite? I decided to stop off at the farmers' stand for fresh produce on my way home and see what appealed to me. Why not pick up a good movie as a treat after supper? The peaches on my table were perfectly ripe, so I decided to make dumplings when I got home. In the meantime, I had an hour to work uninterrupted before I had to leave the house and decided to make the most of it. Better a golden hour that is, than two that were, or three that obviously will not come to pass today.

The day stretched before me-not as I had hoped. But not, thank heav­en, beyond redemption.

Joyful Simplicities for June

- Take a trip down memory lane by catching lightning bugs or fire¬flies on the lawn at twilight. Prepare a comfy hotel for them in a clean mayonnaise jar with holes punched in the lid and layered with grass (remember?). Be sure to let them flyaway home after a brief visit!

- Enjoy a frosty pitcher of lemonade and conversation when you come home from work. While the frozen variety is fine for most days, why not treat yourself to an old-fashioned nectar made from fresh lemons and sugar syrup? Here's how. Boil two cups of granulated sugar and one cup of. water with the rinds of three lemons cut into thin strips for five minutes. ¬Let the syrup cool and add the juice of eight lemons. Strain and store in a covered container in the refrigerator. Use two tablespoons of the syrup for every glass of ice or carbonated water to make lemonade.

- Be on the lookout for a strawberry festival or hold your own. The Victorians called these homegrown events "Strawberry Regales," and the menu included every strawberry confection imaginable. Turn this into a potluck dessert party and invite friends to bring their favorite strawberry sensation. Indulge!

- Remember that ice cream is good for the soul. Freeze a homemade batch, treat yourself to a cone for lunch, make friends with the Good Humor man.

- One June weekend, buy a whole watermelon and keep it in the refrigerator for at least a day so that it gets ice-cold. Cut it in large pieces and sit on the porch, back deck or front stoop eating watermelon with family or friends, spitting out the seeds. Have a contest to see who can shoot the farthest.

- Hang a hammock. Lie in it.

- Celebrate the Summer Solstice on June 21 by camping out in the backyard. Pitch a tent, bring out the sleeping bags, build a 'campfire in the grill. Serve hot dogs and S'mores for dessert. (Remember S'mores? Take two graham crackers and sandwich a thin chocolate bar with a toasted marshmallow. Eat one. Eat some more!) Tell ghost stories, then sleep in the moonlight.

- Hold "The Great Party" on Midsummer's Night Eve (June 23) like Tasha Tudor's Stillwater sect. If you are a fan of Tasha Tudor (and who isn't?), have you seen a copy of the Tasha Tudor gift catalog from the Jenny Wren Press? It features stationery products, artwork, reproductions of Tasha's collection of eighteenth-century furniture, Corgi Cottage Preserves, and much more. A one-year subscription can be ordered by call¬ing 1-8OO-552-WREN, or by writing the Jenny Wren Press, P.O. Box 505, Mooresville, Indiana 46158.

- While dreaming of creating a fancy pantry, call for Allison Kyle Leopold's Victorian Cupboard catalog to savor an authentic taste of the past. Allison, who is the author of many beautiful books on Victoriana, has gathered together nostalgic food specialties from here and abroad, as well as vintage tabletop and home accessories. A catalog can be ordered by calling 1-800-653-8033.

- Treat your authentic self to the most fetching straw hat you can find. Paint your toenails red.

- You might not be able to create a real secret garden, but a secret spot in which to sit can be yours by building a tepee in the backyard with a wooden stake and string, then planting scarlet runner beans, morning glories, or sweet peas. When the vines appear, guide them up the strings. Retreat to your "tepee" frequently to contemplate the meaning of life. Everyone needs a refuge where there's no phone and no fax.

- Even if you're convinced that you can't have a garden because there's no space, Malcolm Hillier's marvelous Book if Container Gardenina will inspire you to get in there with a spade and a pot. It's filled with fabulous suggestions and instructions for planting window boxes, barrels, tubs, urns, and baskets, and much more. A sensational idea for spring bulbs is to grow two different types of tulips layered in one pot for a dazzling display of indoor beauty.

- Plant rosemary for remembrance, and while you're at it, a little lavender, sage, and thyme. Emelie Tolley's enchanting series of books about herbs (written with Chris Mead) will inspire you to become your own herbalist. Herbs: Gardens, Decorations, and Recipes will start you off in the right direction; Cooking with Herbs, Gifts from the Herb Garden, and The Herbal Pantry all provide delightful suggestions for what to do with the herbs after you've cultivated and harvested them.

- Call for the comprehensive, inspirational catalog of books for gardeners from Capability's Books. It lists over one thousand books and is a wonderful demonstration of just how much delight can be found in the backyard. Capability's number is 1-800-247-8154.