Every month I chronicle those ordinary delights that give me comfort or offer a place of reflection or joy. Here are my everyday delights for June:
1. Summertime Movies
Temperatures are hot in the desert and over the course of the last 2 weeks we faced several days of consecutive heat of 115 degrees. My family loves the comfort of a cold movie theater and watching new releases, while eating Sour Patch candy and munching on popcorn. Two movies we adored were Inside Out and Jurassic World. We also see some theater show for entertainment.
2. Checkers with my daughter
During the summertime, my daughter and I try to play a game of checkers everyday. There is a relaxing rhythm to engaging in this ordinary pleasure of hanging out in her room, strategizing and teasing one another about our moves. She loves to squeal, “King me,” each time she lands on the backend of my checkerboard.
3. Coloring the Enchanted Forest
I’ve caught on to the phenomena of adult coloring books. It is an interesting and fun way to relieve some stress and get lost among the hues and details of an intricate flower or swirls of trees.
4. Attending a U2 concert
I love attending concerts. Toward the beginning of this month, I had the pleasure of attending a U2 concert. Bono’s voice carries a mesmerizing tone and at this concert the crowd sensed his sadness when he belted out the song, “Iris,” a tribute to his mother (who passed away when Bono was fourteen). The most touching line of the night came from Bono who said “I became an artist when I lost my mother.”
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
What a wonderful month – and one that brings back memories with my own children. My husband and I are planning to go to Jurassic Park. And the games have changed, but we still play board games and card games with our children. I’ve heard of adult coloring books – fun! It has been a long time since I have been to a concert, but the U2 concert sounds like it was awesome, and a little emotional.
P.S. 1, 2, 3, …
Thanks for the clue, Robin. Appreciate it.
The U2 concert did pack emotion and Bono is never afraid to explore complicated subjects in his shows.
So nice to hear your family loves playing board games too!
I am so interested in seeing Inside Out, given the reviews and stories I’ve read about it. My youngest definitely won’t sit through it though, so I’ll have to figure out an Eldest/Mommy date to see that.
Dakota,
You will definitely enjoy this movie, but I do agree it might be too much for your little one. I’d love to hear your thoughts after you’ve watched it.
I want to see both Inside Out and Jurassic World. I think I’ll treat myself to Inside Out alone this week at night. With popcorn. Mmm.. That will be a delight.
A date with Inside Out and popcorn… That sounds perfect! Enjoy, Tamara.
What a great idea for a series! I may have to borrow this from you. 😉 I really have to see Inside Out!
Some little delights this month: celebrating our anniversary, chicken parmesan sliders at our new favorite pub/restaurant, my baby nephew learned how to climb the stairs, my succulents are growing and propagating like crazy…
I hope July brings you many delights!
Suheiry,
Love that you enjoyed my delight series. Inside Out is a great movie which caters to adults and children.
Happy Anniversary!