When the Night Is Cloudy

Smokey, the comforter

The events of last week were harrowing for the people of Boston and West, Texas. Those of us following the news from the security of our homes or workplaces had nothing to complain about, but our stress levels jumped anyway.

When the news is ugly, work becomes solace. I hope you were able to put your head down and lose yourself in writing, laying tile, caring for patients, drawing up plans, whatever. What, though, do we do with the non-work hours we're tempted to pack with CNN? Even a news junkie like me needs a break.

The following gave me a breather and offered perspective--and hope: 

Pets – Dogs and cats across America are wondering what they did to deserve all the extra walks, cuddles, and treats they got last week. They kept us tethered to routine and, in the case of dogs, got us out of the house to watch the sun rise and see the night sky.

Children at play -- The family that moved in two doors to the right of me has two kids close in age to the little girl who lives on my left. Three children at play create a synergy that's irresistible to the brother and sister from the end of the block. Now, a fivesome gathers in the cul de sac in the early evening. Catch and kickball are still popular as are bike riding and teetering on skateboards. If I close my eyes once, I recall the sights and sounds of my own, now grown, kids at play. If I close them twice, I remember myself at that age. The continuum reminds us life goes on.

Romantic comedies and mysteries -- When the outside world is confusing and unpredictable, romantic comedies offer escape and the promise of a happy ending. I've got lots of go-to authors for tough times, but Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Kristen Higgins head the list. Mysteries, too, prove the ideal reads for stressful times because we know the truth will come out and wrong-doers will be punished. Looking for heart-warming, escapist, but thoughtful television? Try Call the Midwife, a series in its second season on PBS. It follows nurses who deliver babies in London's East End in the 1950's. The era is far enough removed that we can watch what unfolds with a little detachment. Plus babies! There are babies!

What helped you catch your breath and put things in perspective last week? Please share.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Last week, we were busy counting our blessings. This week, I've made a list of some favorite things--and hope to nudge you into listing your own.

1. Performance of Maria Bello in Prime Suspect She's so tightly wound, she'll take out a city street if she snaps, but she's a dogged detective. Bello happens to resemble Older Daughter, so I like her and worry she's skipping meals. Let's hope NBC doesn't cancel the show.

2. The Soldier's Wife, Margaret LeRoy This book, set on the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, challenged my preconceptions. At its end, I asked myself which character had lost the most. The answer surprised me.

3. Gavin & Stacy The secondary characters steal every scene in this British rom/com series. (See publicity picture at top, left.) Seasons one and two are available at Netflix, via streaming and DVD, plus episodes are up on YouTube and other sites. Tidy.

4. Cool weather Hubs and I walked together Sunday morning. He layered up. For the first time this fall, I did NOT say, "Hot! It's so hot." He checked the temp: 48 degrees. My definition of perfect.

5. Men who name stray cats When I went out of town earlier this month, Hubs reluctantly agreed to feed the stray cat I've named Lucky along with Lucky's occasional sidekick, a black and white tabby. When I returned, Hubs mentioned "Checkers." I was baffled. "What's that?" Hubs shrugged. "Lucky's friend."

6. Until There Was You, Kristan Higgins I bought this book as an airplane read, figuring it would be light-hearted and funny. It was all that and packed a sneaky emotional wallop. I wiped away tears at the end, which is embarrassing and makes flight attendants uncomfortable. It may be my favorite of Higgins' books, and she's an auto-buy for me.

7. Daughters who come to dinner and stay for six hours Hubs and I don't qualify as witty conversationalists and we're too creaky to do snark effectively, but now that the kids are launched, they don't hate hanging with us. I credit dessert, the never-fail lure.

8. Fotofest International Discoveries III Through December 22, twelve photographers from eight countries are exhibiting at Fotofest's headquarters at 1113 Vine Street, Houston, Texas 77002 (A shade north and east of the University of Houston/Downtown's main building.) The show wowed me, it's free, and the gallery space, in a renovated warehouse, is stunning. For details and a peek at some of the photos on exhibit, go here.

9. Rain Houston's November rainfall edged into the above-average category. Hooray! Although we're roughly twenty inches below normal for the year, the grass is green again, and birds don't have to drink from saucers under potted plants.

10. WANA 1011 Kristen Lamb's sixty-day online course on blogging and mastering social media is nearing an end, and I've learned a lot. More importantly, I've "met" and come to appreciate the work of dozens of writers who are balancing fiction and non-fiction writing, families, day jobs, and blogs. If you're a writer reluctant to wade into social media waters, read We Are Not Alone, the Writer's Guide to Social Media. Learn more here.

Your turn: Name one of your favorite things and tell me why it's special. (I'm not asking out of pure nosiness; I want to expand my list by trying out the things you like.)