I have mentioned a time or two that it sometimes takes awhile for me to become human in the morning–and often involves substantial amounts of caffeine in order to do so. Today was one of those mornings.
I was awakened by the annoying ringing of my alarm clock and my business phone. I jumped out of bed and while trying to clear my head of morning fog to figure out which annoying sound to deal with first, I ended up leaning forward with my arms out of position and did a slow-motion low-speed crash into the wall with my forehead as the impact point.
I no doubt muttered something to myself. I have no clue what it was but it probably wasn’t fit to hear anyway.
Shaking loose the cobwebs in my head, I stumbled as fast as I could to my work phone two rooms away and got to it between the 4th and 5th ring, picking up the receiver just as the caller hung up.
And left no message.
(In case you’re wondering whether all of that was the “unexpected pleasure” part of the post as advertised in the title, rest assured that it was not. While it might seem sometimes that I’m a glutton for punishment, I swear to you that I am more of a glutton for pleasure kind of guy.)
Then the dogs wanted to go outside. Then inside. Then outside. I finally got back to my desk, precious coffee in hand, when a dog barked. I work best without a lot of distractions and with a lot of quiet, so let’s just say that up to that point I wasn’t the happiest or most productive person you’ll ever meet.
That dog’s bark was one irritation too many. That was it, I was DONE! I turned in my chair to look through the window over on my right, and filled my lungs in preparation for a very loud yell, when mid-breath my eyes caught a rose bush just outside my window that had exploded into a glorious display of floral beauty with perfectly white flowers and buds that were illuminated by a sun that had just burned through what had been an overcast sky.
It was a view of perfection that that I’d been too blind to see.
I never got the yell out. The dog–I don’t know which one–stopped barking on its own. What began as just another negative in a growing list of them this morning became a wonderful reminder as to the beauty, wonders, blessings, and joy all around me when I open my eyes, mind, and attitude, to experience them.
It’s going to be another glorious day.
May yours be glorious too.
Russ
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 
It was certainly not Duke, but the other one who is clearly jealous that you aren’t writing a song about him/her..
LOL! That’s got to be it, my friend!
BTW, although I’m “following” your blog, for some reason your posts aren’t sent to me via email and it has been too long since I’ve experienced all the pleasures of your wonderful blog. I plan to treat myself to glimpses of your inpiring spirit through visiting your blog today.
Russ
Happy to have you visit whenever time permits Russ..
Thank you, Mimi. I always feel welcome there.
You are not alone in meeting a (plaster) wall with your forehead. 🙂
My condolences! I hope yours did no lasting damage to head or wall!
Russ
It’s great that you have the eyes to see wonder in all circumstances! Bravo!
Thank you, my friend. I’m working it and playing life.
Russ
I ended up leaning forward with my arms out of position and did a slow-motion low-speed crash into the wall with my forehead as the impact point. For a visual person like me, this line is just so precious and I can so relate!
It just dawned on me that all those annoying things had to happen to bring you to that one moment. That’s pretty magical, if you think about it. 🙂
LOL! Great point! Thank you for the insight, Diana!
Russ
My pleasure!
Love that you were gifted with a beautiful sight! What wonderful dogs you have to bark so that you noticed the rose bush!
Yes, we are blessed with some great dogs. They can also be annoying at times, like many other things in life. The trick, of course, is to focus on the blessings, not the annoyances. Some days I’m better at that than others!
Russ