Happily Rolling Along

There are things that make me happy. Some I know all about and then I can anticipate the happiness. Others just sort of happen. Here are some of the things that made me happy today:

1. It's the weekend.

Need I say more?

2. I had an appointment with The World's Greatest Stylist And Life Coach this morning.

There is always reason to celebrate that happy happening. I love my stylist. And she loves me. She also loves my new purse because she has great taste and absolutely no inhibitions regarding snatching it right off the counter so she can explore each and every pocket. The fact that we have a working relationship is probably based in my complete acceptance of this sort of thing. It is not the first time she has commandeered something upon my person for closer examination.

The other reason this appointment made me happy was because I had something of a "forehead situation" going on. I am in my forties and it is high time I accepted the fact that I need working bangs. I happen to have an acre of forehead and it needs ground cover. No one should ever have to look at that much forehead.

3. On the way to my appointment...

I happened to notice a balloon that had escaped from one of the eight million car dealerships having sales along Route 1 this weekend. This balloon had managed to snag itself on a power line directly above the highway. Further, it had centered itself perfectly between the poles. It couldn't have been done more perfectly had it been an intended ornament. Why this amused me so mightily, I know not. But it did.

4. The Used Book Store is right next door to The Happy Hair Place

I didn't find much this time around. But I always try to make a purchase. This is the kind of place I want to remain right where it be and I'll give them my dollars when I can. In addition to reading material, they also carry a rather impressive selection of movies. I have a system for perusing The Used Book Store: Youth Lit., Horror, Best Sellers, New Arrivals, Clearance, then Movies. In that order. Always. When I brought my meagre selection to the counter, the woman running the store said, "Oh look! You're just like me! You can't resist those slasher movies!" Of course, I had to correct her. Just because it is a common mistake, doesn't mean I don't have a responsibility regarding the setting straight of records. "No," I said calmly, "it is not a slasher movie..."

"It is a zombie movie."

This, of course, led to a delightful discussion of the genre and I am pleased to say that I did a little educating today. Seriously. The woman wrote stuff down based upon my recommendations. I am like the Socrates of the independent zombie movies crowd...

5. On the way home from my appointment...

I saw a sign for a yard sale, complete with an arrow directing people towards the goods. It was pointing at the local cemetery. I don't think there is any question regarding why this tickled me as much as it did. That's just funny. And contextual given the Zombie Chat I'd been having mere moments before.

6. It is not a sleeve.

It may not be a sleeve, but it is about two inches from being a finished not-sleeve. Of course, there is no reason for anyone to get all excited about this since I tend to put things off even worse than usual when I am close to the end-point. But I still feel the need to celebrate this approaching milestone. I will also feel the need to apply a firm poke in the eyeball to anyone who dares to point out that this is only the first of what needs to be two not-sleeves.

Don't go harshing my mellow. I am happy today. Let's just bask in my glow.

On another note, it appears that a few people noticed the disappearance of Thursday night's post. Frankly, I hadn't thought anyone would. But, if site meter stats speak true, there have been some searches and I did end up getting a couple of emails. I suppose I should explain.

The post has shuffled off this mortal coil and I confess that it was by my own hand. I read my comments in my email (as many of you do) and have gotten in the habit of perusing them on my phone rather than on the computer. It's handy, quick and lets me keep up, but doesn't do much for letting me see the comments in context.

On Friday morning, I received a comment that made me question whether I'd written something in an offensive way. I wasn't seeing where I'd gone wrong, yet I couldn't help but wonder. With departure time for the morning commute upon me and little time for pondering, I had to make a quick judgement call. I responded to the commenter and deleted the post. I knew that it would worry me all day had I left it up and decided that this would be the best course of action under the circumstances.

Later, I learned that the comment was in no way intended as a response to a gaffe on my part. Had I been reading it as part of the "flow" of comments this would have been obvious, but the way in which I was viewing them that day made it hard for me to follow that flow.

The decision to pull the post? Well, that was hasty and regrettable, even if I use the late-for-work excuse. The commenter in this case is a lovely person and someone with whom I've corresponded regularly for years. She deserved, at the very least, the benefit of the doubt. Truthfully, she deserved my complete confidence. I should have known better than to think she wouldn't "get" me. She felt badly, I felt badly...there was a whole lotta badly. I am sorry about that. Very.

The intentions which led to pulling the post? Those I stand behind. I teach the students in my writing classes that words have power and to write with a purpose. When I am teaching them how we are going to be while we are together in that space for 7 hours, I tell them again that words have power and that it doesn't matter how you "meant" them. What matters is how the other person perceived those words. It's about taking responsibility, a trait I value.

I decided long ago that the purpose of this blog was entertainment. It isn't a political blog nor do I spend much time inciting passionate debate. It is a silly little space where we can have some fun for the most part. Had my words that day been about how I think it is wrong to make babies work in coal mines, I would have left the post up and stood proudly behind it.

But a silly bit of daily whatnot? That does not merit taking a stand. If there was any chance whatsoever that my words were written in a hurtful manner, then the post needed to be deleted, even if I didn't mean it that way. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad that it wasn't what I'd feared and that the post could have remained as it was. But I will always err on the side of caution when it comes to content. It's all about responsible writing and valuing your audience.

That's just how I roll.

SA