A FEW OF MY FAVOURITES

I have been alone for more than half the week and I did not for once feel lonely. I made every use of the opportunity—reconnecting with a few of my favourites.

Playing some cherished music early in the morning and believing that the day ahead will be great.

Buying flowers for myself, arranging them all over the house and leaving one carnation on a window sill for the mottled sunshine to play with.

Rearranging books in my study and feeling the years gone by wash over me…all over again.

Reading fiction and obstinately imagining that in each case I am the one the authors chose to write about.

While reading, laughing, smirking, snorting, sobbing, crying—whatever the occasion demanded—all of it (un)selfconsciously.

Going out each day for that much-needed walk, wrapping a stole around myself, enjoying the ever-so-slight nip in the evening air and congratulating myself on a hard day’s work done well.

Lighting scented candles and in the flickering light dreaming of opening a children’s bookstore someday.

Thanking God and Bocelli’s genes for his magical voice.

Waiting every evening for a certain phone call from someone far away.

Burning incense, contemplating, giving free rein to inchoate ideas and letting them flourish.

Catching up on eight hours of sleep every night and while feeling cosy, tucked up in bed, looking forward to all my tomorrows.

Reading myself some more to sleep.

Basically, ‘living each day from the crack of dawn until I closed my eyes’. (James Patterson)