A treat

It doesn’t take much.  It really doesn’t take much.  At all.  I bought myself new kitchen towels with my Christmas/birthday money; it makes me smile every single time I open that drawer.  I’m happy with a new mascara or lipstick.  A bag of three little See’s candies.  Four is also good.  A small banana cream pie Blizzard.  A new pack of my favorite pens.  A good pair of scissors.  Socks with padded bottoms.  Popcorn and a movie at home.  Notecards that scream Caren.  Easy peasy.

There’s nothing like the smell of clean sheets and pizza in the oven on Fridays.  A towel warmed by the floor vent while I’m in the shower.  A sparkly microwave.  Frozen yogurt as a family.  Cuddling on the couch with Todd or the kids.  A sappy romance with the girls and ladies in my family.  Watching the kids work in harmony to get the dishes done.  Dipping slightly overcooked chocolate chip cookies in milk with Andrew. A vacuumed vehicle that smells good.  The sound of the dishwasher and washing machine humming harmoniously.  The cool air conditioning on my feet when I’m cooking.  A pile of letters ready for the mailbox.  A night at home with no commitments.  Earrings on clearance at Kohl’s for $3.  A text asking me to go walking at the mall in the morning.

A list of errands all checked off.  I hate errands, but I love an accomplished list.  The sound of my kids laughing hard.  So hard they can barely catch their breath.  A documentary with Mitchell.  The latest issue of Real Simple and an early bed night.  A box of children’s classics in good condition at a garage sale for $.50 each.  A little stand-up comedy.

Dancing music.  Dancing to dancing music.  With my kids.  With the blinds closed.  Energy and enthusiasm to make the whole house clean at once.  Like a hotel room when you first walk in.  Brand new Ticonderoga pencils.  Coloring with Bronwyn.  Freshly painted toe nails.  An organized drawer.  Toast with jam and Dear Abby.  A quiet hour to write.

I’m not a gifts person (we can talk about that later), but it was always such a treat when my dad took my little Ford Escort to the bottom of the street for me and filled the tank.  It was like $8 back in the 80s.  Nearly every time I visit, my mom leaves a tiny bag of See’s on my pillow.  Occasionally I’ll get a card full of words from one of my non-wordy sisters.  Just the other day out of the blue a cute family came bearing brownies to congratulate Andrew on getting in to BYU.  A friend made me envelopes out of fabric.  So nice, who thinks of things like that?

Kind of like the whipped cream on a day.  Not part of the main meal.  Certainly not necessary.  Just a little indulgence, a simple treat.  In the tiniest ways these are some things that make me smile.  My mom has engrained in me the idea that you have to pamper yourself because no one else will.  She’s awesome at this.  I’m not so great.   Everyone has a list.  I bet it’s just not written down.  How hard would it be to treat yourself now and then?  Or someone else?  There’s not a day so great it wouldn’t be that much better with a tiny dollop of cream on top.