I was sitting on the couch, feet up on the coffee table, ready for a quiet evening at home. As I picked up the television remote, ready to scroll through the channels, I heard the chirp of a cricket.

Looking over at the window I could see it was closed.

“Oh, great.” I sighed as I put the remote down. “It’s in the house.” I got up to begin my search.

Standing in the middle of the living room, patiently waiting for it to chirp again, my son Alex came into the room.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

I quickly pressed my pointer finger up to my lips. “Waiting.” I whispered.

“Waiting for what?” Alex whispered back.

“CHIRP” called the cricket.

“That!” I cried as I headed to the stairs leading down to the guest bedroom.

“Wait!” Alex called. “I’m pretty sure it came from that direction!” Alex was pointing in the opposite direction that I was headed.

“Seriously?” I looked back to where I’d been headed. “I’m almost positive it was coming from down here.”

“I don’t know.” Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I could be wrong.”

“How about you stand there and I’ll stand here and we’ll wait for it to chirp again?”

“I can for a minute.” He looked at his watch. “But I have to finish an email for work.”

“It shouldn’t be long.” I quickly crossed my fingers for extra luck.

We both stood quietly, waiting.

“Oh for the love of…” I sighed. “This feels exactly like the which-smoke-alarm-needs-a-new-battery game!”

“CHIRP!”

I quickly looked at Alex. “Well?”

“I’m not sure.” He shrugged his shoulders again.

I tilted my head back and sighed again. “This is going to take forever!” I cried.

“Not for me, it isn’t.” Alex said as he headed back to his room. “I really need to get that email out.”

“Oh, sure!” I called to him. “Abandon me!”

“You’ll find him!” He called back. “I have faith in you!”

I stood in the hallway, my hands on my hips. “Okay, little fella. One more time.” I said under my breath.

“CHIRP.”

I looked past the guest room and down the stairs that headed to the basement. “Great. Now you sound like you’re down there.”

I walked downstairs and looked in the laundry room, pantry, bathroom and my husband Steven’s office.

“Let’s try this one more time.” I called.

But after several minutes of waiting and only hearing silence I realized my little friend must have decided to stop for the night.

“Well, I guess it’s to be continued.” I went back to the living room, sat down on the couch and picked up the remote again. Just as I clicked on the television…

“CHIRP.”

“NOPE!” I called as I turned the volume up so I couldn’t hear anymore chirping. “I’m done playing for tonight!”

It was the first day of a new school year. The students had been dismissed and I was walking back to my office when I noticed a beautiful bouquet of pink carnations sitting on a table near the front office. Not only did the delicate bouquet have my favorite flowers but the hint of baby breath and eucalyptus leaves made for a beautiful arrangement. “Aw. Someone has a nice surprise waiting for them.” I said as I kept walking down the hall.

As I passed a colleague he pointed behind me. “Aren’t you going to get your flowers?” He asked.

“What? Really? For me?” I turned around and headed back to the arrangement. Taking the card out from the middle of the bouquet it really did have my name on it.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I opened the card:

Happy First Day of School!

Love,

Steven, Max and Alex

“Aw. How sweet is that?” I tucked the card back in the envelope, picked up the vase and cradling it in my arms I headed for my car.

When I arrived at home Steven and Alex were waiting for me at the front door.

“Oh good. They did get delivered.” Steven said as he stepped aside to let me and my beautiful bouquet pass by. “When we didn’t hear from you I thought they hadn’t gotten there in time.”

“Actually I was so busy running around that I didn’t see them until the end of the day.” I placed them on the counter checking to make sure none of the flowers had been damaged on the car ride home. “Aren’t they gorgeous!” I turned around and hugged them both. “Thank you so much! I love them!”

“We could see you were a little sad that your summer break was ending so we thought we’d surprise you with them.” Steven smiled as he went over to the arrangement to check it out. “They did a nice job.” He nodded his approval. “But we thought you’d keep them at work to brighten up your desk?”

I shook my head. “I’m never at my desk.” I went over and picked up the vase and placed them in the middle of the dining room table. “I’ll have more time to enjoy them here when I get home from work.”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever makes you happy.”

I leaned in and inhaled their scent. “This definitely makes me happy.” I sighed.

“So, why are pink carnations your favorite?” Alex asked.

“Well, they’re beautiful, long lasting, low maintenance and when I was little girl I could buy one for about twenty-five cents.” I smiled at the memory. “I loved having one in a little bud vase on my bedside table.”

“Well, I don’t think this is going to fit on your bedside table.” Steven laughed.

“Nope! That’s why it’s staying right here in the middle of the table!” I leaned over and inhaled again. “Now I get to enjoy two dozen of these little beauties!” I turned around and gave another quick hug to both of them. “This was definitely the highlight of my first day back to school!”

“That’s what we were hoping.” Steven went over to the refrigerator and pulled out a package of hot dogs. “Alex and I are making dinner. Let me know when you want me to throw these on the grill?”

“Flowers and dinner?” I couldn’t help but smile. “This is the best first day back to school ever!”

My son Alex and I were sitting on the back deck eating lunch when I saw a robin in our birdbath. “Well he’s certainly having a micro-joy right now!” I couldn’t help but laugh as we watched him splashing about in the water.

Alex looked over at me with a confused look on his face. “Micro-joy?”

“I read an article about it. It’s when you find and appreciate the tiny joys in your day. Like this!” I picked up my roast beef sandwich and pointed to the different layers. “A slice of rare roast beef with some sharp provolone, lettuce, tomato, a slice of red onion, topped with some mayo and a little bit of salt and pepper.” I held it out to him. “Now this is definitely going to be a micro-joy.” I said before taking a bite.

Alex picked up his sandwich. “It does look like a good sandwich.” He nodded before taking a bite himself.

I placed the sandwich back on it’s plate, leaned back in my chair and slowly chewed. “Absolutely a micro-joy.” I said as I finished chewing. “Although I did go a little heavy with the red onion.”

Alex laughed. “Yeah, I skipped that ingredient.”

“But isn’t it nice when you can stop and enjoy the little things?” I asked as I picked up my sandwich again. “I’m usually eating just to get it over with so I can move on to more important things I need to get done.” I began looking around the deck. “Just look at how beautiful the geraniums are this year!” I reached over and snapped a dead flower. “This entire summer there wasn’t a day that all of them weren’t filled with flowers.”

“Well, the hummingbirds are sure liking them.” Alex went and took another bite of his sandwich.

“Don’t we have four hummingbirds this year?” I looked over at their feeders to make sure there was still enough nectar in them.

Alex nodded his head. “I’m pretty sure it’s two couples.”

Just then one of the hummingbirds buzzed past our table, headed for the feeder, only to have another hummingbird chase him away.

I had to laugh as they both zoomed past us, headed for the woods. “Clearly they’re not having a micro-joy right now.”

“They spend most of their day chasing each other away.” Alex took another bite of his sandwich.

I leaned my head back closing my eyes enjoying the feeling of the sun on my face. “Ah…it’s the little things like this.” I sighed.

I heard the kitchen door open and turned to see who was coming. “Hey, welcome home.” I said as my husband Steven came out of the kitchen door and onto the deck.

“Well we didn’t win the lottery.” He sighed as he held up the losing ticket, not looking very happy.

“That’s all right.” I said. “It wouldn’t have fit into our plans right now anyway.”

Steven looked confused. “Winning the lottery wouldn’t fit into your plans right now?”

I nodded my head. “Alex and I are enjoying micro-joys right now.” I looked over at Alex then back to Steven. “Winning the lottery would have been a major joy.” I pointed to my sandwich. “Eating this sandwich and looking around our backyard is the micro-joys we’re satisfied with right now.”

I got up and began walking towards the house. I stopped next to him to give him a quick kiss. “Why don’t you go sit down and I’ll make you one. You can eat with us.”

Steven nodded his head and smiled. “That sounds good to me.”

“See you’re smiling again! Welcome to a micro-joy.” I called over my shoulder.

“I don’t care what she calls it.” I could hear Steven say to Alex. “I’m just hungry.”

“I heard that!” I called back.

It was already dark out when I finished cleaning the kitchen. With a final wipe of the countertop I grabbed the garbage bag from its container, tied the top closed and headed out the back door to throw it in the garbage can.

Leaving the back door open, I lifted the lid to the can when a horrific smell hit me like a ton of bricks. I dropped the bag on the ground and raced back in the house.

“Oh my gosh.” I couldn’t stop coughing as I leaned against the closed door.

My son Alex came around the corner holding his shirt that was pulled up over his nose and mouth. “What’s that smell?” he cried.

“I was taking the garbage out and I think a skunk got me!”

“How did it flood the whole house so fast?” He looked behind him. “My room’s all the way at the other end of the house!” He looked up at the ceiling where the return register for the air conditioning was. My eyes followed his.

“I’ll go turn off the air conditioning!” He raced into the living room and shut off the air conditioning but it was too late.

The whole house was filled with the noxious fumes.

Still coughing I came into the living room. “I’m going to go change my clothes I think it got me!” I smelled my shirt sleeve but didn’t smell anything. “I’m not taking any chances.”

A few minutes later I came back into the living room carrying my skunked clothes. “I just got out of the shower and now I’m going to throw these in the washing machine.”

Alex had opened the front windows and turned the ceiling fans on. “It’s not getting any better in here.” He said, his shirt still over his nose and mouth.

“Try turning on the exhaust fan over the stove.” I called over my shoulder as I headed for the laundry room.

With the skunked clothes in the machine I came back into the living room. “Still not better?” I asked as Alex stood in the middle of the living room, his face still covered with his shirt. “No, and I just checked my room, it really stinks in there.”

I grabbed my phone and looked up how to get rid of skunk smell. “Okay, it says right here that vinegar helps get rid of the smell.” I held out the phone for him to see before I went into the kitchen and pulled out the gallon jug of white vinegar and put it on the counter top. Going into the cabinet I took out a stack of bowls.

I filled two of the bowls and handed them to Alex. “Start placing them all over the house.”

When he returned I handed him two more. “Don’t forget to put a few downstairs in the basement.” I called after him.

When I ran out of bowls I began filling glasses. When the last drop of vinegar came out of the container I looked over at Alex. “Well, let’s see if it works.” I sniffed the air. “Either I’m starting to get used to it or it’s getting better.” I said.

Alex sniffed the air. “Not to me it isn’t!” He quickly pulled his shirt back over his face. “So how long does it say it takes before the vinegar works?”

“Good question. I didn’t read that far.” I took my phone out of my pocket and looked it up. “Well, this isn’t good.” I looked over at him and raised my eyebrows before holding out the phone to him. “It says it can take up to three weeks.”

“Three weeks! Are you kidding me!” He began shaking his head, with his free hand he pointed to his shirt that covered half his face. “I can’t keep walking around the house like this!”

“What if we try putting cotton balls in our noses?” I headed for my bathroom to get some.

“How about no more taking the garbage out after dark?” Alex called.

I came back in the room and handed him a handful of cotton balls. “You don’t have to worry about that.” I said as I stuffed a cotton ball in my nostril. “I’m pretty sure I’ve learned that lesson!” I stuck another one in my other nostril. Twitching my nose around I looked back at Alex. “It’s not comfortable but I think it’s working.”

Alex just shook his head and handed me back the cotton balls. “It’s going to be a long three weeks.” He sighed.

It was first thing in the morning and my son Alex walked into the kitchen where I was pouring hot water into a tea cup.

“Morning!” I said to him as I put the kettle down and went over to the cabinet to get the bottle of apple cider vinegar. “How’d you sleep?” I went over to my cup of hot water and poured a splash of the vinegar into it.

“Pretty good.” He went over to the cabinet and pulled out his own cup, watching me as I went to the refrigerator and took out the bottle of lemon juice. “You’re still doing that drink?” He asked as he got his coffee from the shelf.

I sighed. “Yeah, it doesn’t taste very good but it seems to be helping.” I opened and closed my fingers to show him the results. “The inflammation seems to be getting better because I can work on a needlepoint canvas without being in pain anymore.”

Alex nodded as he set up his pour over coffee filter. “You have been sewing a lot more recently.” He acknowledged.

He looked over as I poured lemon juice in my cup followed by a few squirts of honey.

I smiled as I picked up the container of cinnamon. “And now for the finishing touch!” I laughed as I sprinkled the cinnamon until the entire surface of my cup was covered.

Alex shook his head. “I don’t know how you can drink that every morning.”

“On an empty stomach.” I reminded him as I took a straw and began stirring. “Well, here goes.” I held out my cup for an invisible toast before taking a few sips.

Alex watched me as I muscled through several more sips before I had to stop drinking and couldn’t help but shudder as I shook my head. “Wow that’s one tart way to wake up every morning!” I shuddered again.

Alex started to laugh. “Hey, you’re the one who’s been saying it’s worth it.”

“Totally worth it!” I said as I began moving my fingers again, on the hand not holding my cup, while I glanced over the rim to see how much of the drink was left.

With only a few inches left I made the final commitment. “Well, here goes!” I said as I began taking the last few sips.

Finally, I could hear the sound of the straw as it reached the bottom of the cup. “I did it!” I cried as I placed the cup on the counter top and leaned my head back, crossing my arms across my chest, and doing one final shudder. “It’s still yucky but I have to say it’s getting less yucky every day.” I uncrossed my arms and began moving my fingers again. “Have I mentioned that it’s totally worth it?” I asked again.

Alex began to slowly pour the hot water over his coffee grounds. “Are you stating a fact or are you just trying to convince yourself?” He asked.

“Both.” I admitted with a laugh. “Hey, if I really wanted to do it right I’m actually suppose to be sprinkling some cayenne pepper in there too.” I began to shake my head. “But that’s not happening.”

“Why not?” Alex put the kettle down.

“Are you kidding me?” Another shudder came out of no where. “Tart and heat at the same time, first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach!” I shook my head. “There’s no way I could start every morning like that.” I was still shaking my head. “Absolutely no way.”

“Hey, if it’s suppose to be better…” Alex laughed.

“Nope.” I began moving my fingers again. “This is just fine the way it is.”

“Dinner will be ready in five minutes!” I called out to my husband Steven and my son Alex.

I could hear muffled “Okays.” from both of them.

I was standing at the sink with a colander in one hand and a pot in the other getting ready to drain the potatoes when I looked up and saw a ladybug on our window screen.

“Well, welcome back.” I said as I put the pot down on the counter and went to the back door.

My husband had planted a big garden this year and one of the many things he’d gotten for it was hundreds of ladybugs to keep the aphid population down. I’d been so excited when we released all of them a few months back.

I went over to the screen and placed my finger by the ladybug waiting for her to crawl onto it. “It’s time to get you home, Missy!”

She climbed onto my finger then quickly scurried to the palm of my hand. “Let’s go.” I said as I walked to the garden gate and unlatched it.

I went over to the first tub where cucumbers and squash were planted and leaned my hand against a leaf. “Here’s a nice spot.” I said as I encouraged her to get on the leaf.

Instead she went further up my arm. “Okay.” I said as I moved to a pot of lavender. “Maybe you’d like to climb onto this.” I leaned my arm closer to the flowers but she went in the opposite direction.

“Okay.” I sighed. “You seem to be very particular on what you want to be on.” I walked over to the tomato plants. “What about here?” I asked as I leaned my arm against a leaf.

It was then that my son Alex came out on the back porch. “I thought you said dinner was in five minutes?”

I looked over at him. “I did but then I got distracted when I saw one of our ladybugs on the kitchen window screen!” I began moving her towards the leaf.

Alex walked down the porch steps and was headed for the garden. “Do you want me to finish getting dinner ready?” he asked as he stepped through the gate and walked over to me.

“No. We’re almost finished here.” The ladybug was walking closer to the tomato plant leaf. “See, you remember how nice it is here.” She was slowly making her way down my arm, back into the palm of my hand, headed for the leaf. “ I’m sure we have some yummy aphids for you to eat.”

She was just about to step off my hand when all of a sudden she took flight and headed out of the garden.

“Oh, come on!” I cried as I watched her leave.

Alex patted me on the shoulder as we walked out of the garden, closing the gate behind us. “Well, you tried.” He said as we walked back to the house.

Steven was coming out of the back door. “I was wondering where everyone went.” He pointed back to the kitchen. “There’s a pot of potatoes on the kitchen counter, a pot roast in the crock pot and a salad on the dining room table but everyone was gone.”

“Mom was trying to get a ladybug back in the garden.” Alex explained as we walked up the porch steps.

“I thought one of yours had come back.” I said as I walked back into the kitchen.

“Yeah, but it turns out she was at the wrong address so she flew away.” Alex said as he closed the kitchen door and took the plates off the counter to set the table.

I looked at Steven and shrugged my shoulders. “I tried.” I sighed as I picked up the pot of potatoes and began to drain them. I looked out the kitchen window and saw another ladybug crawling on the back of an Adirondack chair. “Nope, not this time little lady. You can figure out how to get to the garden all by yourself!”

I was visiting my sister Liz in North Carolina. We were sitting on her porch discussing the latest movies that were out in the theaters when I couldn’t help but voice my opinion on one.

“Everyone’s talking about the Barbie movie.” I shook my head and sighed. “I hated playing Barbie when we were little.”

“Really?” Liz looked confused. “I loved playing Barbie!”

I looked over at her and raised my eyebrows. “Of course you did! Because you had the Barbie Dream House and Barbie Corvette.” I started to laugh.

“It wasn’t the real Dream House. It was more like a ranch.” She said as she shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, while you were living in your Barbie Dream House my Barbie lived under my bed.” I started to laugh at the memory. “And while your Barbie drove around in her Corvette my Barbie drove around in an empty tissue box!”

My sister looked even more confused. “I don’t remember that.”

“Of course you don’t!” I laughed even harder. “Because you were living in a Barbie ranch and driving Barbies Corvette!”

“I do remember I used to love having dinner parties at that house.”

“Oh, I remember those!” I was still laughed. “While you were getting ready, driving to the pretend store and getting your dream house ready I was wedged under my bed watching dust bunnies swirl around me and keeping myself busy by chewing on Barbies hands!”

“You chewed your Barbies hands?”

“Yup!” I nodded my head. “I sure did.”

Liz shook her head. “Why?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I guess it was because I was so bored.” I grabbed one of the pillows next to me and placed it behind my back. “The worst part was when you would announce the theme of your party and how you wanted Barbie to dress for the event.”

“Why was that the worst part?”

“Because,” I looked over at her raising my eyebrows again. “all my Barbies hands were chewed up and I couldn’t get her arms through any of the sleeves!” I started to laugh. “I’d pull up to your dream house in my tissue box, half dressed because I couldn’t get her clothes on!”

Liz was shaking her head and laughing. “I swear I don’t remember any of that!”

“Well, that’s how I remember playing Barbie.” I sighed. “So I’m pretty sure that’s why I’m not a Barbie girl.”

We sat quietly for a moment before I came to another realization. “You know, now that I think about it, you still like throwing theme parties.”

“I do.” She said as she put her legs up on the ottoman. “I’m thinking about having another murder mystery dinner party this fall.”

“Oh, I remember your last one!” I was holding up my pointer finger. “Didn’t you ask all your guests to come dressed as their character they were assigned?”

Liz nodded. “I did.”

“Well.” I sighed again. “Hopefully I’ve progressed enough from our Barbie days not to show up half dressed and driving a tissue box to the next theme party I’m invited to.”

I was climbing up the attic stairs when my son Alex came out of his room. “What are you up to?”

I was half way up the ladder when I stopped and looked down at him. “Oh, good. I’m glad you’re here. I was going to grab a suitcase, can I hand it down to you?”

“Sure.” Alex waited at the bottom of the ladder as I continued up. My head just cleared the attic floor when I spotted the suitcases a few feet away. Grabbing one I pulled it over to the opening and lowered it down to him.

“Got it.” He placed it on the floor.

I slowly climbed down, folded the ladder in two and raised it back up until the hatch was back in place. “Well, that was the easy part.” I sighed.

“What are you talking about?” Alex moved out of the way as I picked up the suitcase and headed for my bedroom.

“I hate packing.” I answered as I tossed the suitcase on my bed.

“What’s so hard about packing?” He sat down on the ottoman we had at the end of the bed.

“I don’t know.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m always afraid I’m going to forget to pack something that’s important.”

Alex shook his head and laughed. “I’m pretty sure Aunt Lizzy will have anything you forget to pack already at her house.”

“I know.” I sighed again. “But I haven’t been on a plane since before Covid.” I went over to the closet and began picking through my clothes. “I’m not sure what I’ll want to wear while I’m there.” I grabbed a pair of black dress slacks and tossed them on the bed. “It’s been a while since I’ve packed a carry-on.” I picked out a few tops and tossed them next to the pants. I stood in the middle of the room, hands on my hips, staring at my jewelry box. “Do I go crazy and do matching jewelry for each outfit?”

Alex held up both hands and began laughing. “You’re asking the wrong person that question.”

“You know what?” I shook my head. “I’m switching gears. I’m going to pack the fun stuff first.”

I headed for the master bathroom and opened up a cabinet.

Alex had followed me and was standing in the doorway. “What fun stuff are you talking about?”

I pulled out a handful of packets and began shuffling through them. I held up the different packets. “I’ve got eye masks, sheet masks for your face and my absolute favorite…” I held up a larger package then the others. “Pedicure masks for your feet!” I headed back to the bedroom and tossed the packets into the suitcase. “We’ll do an evening of beauty while we sip on a glass of wine and maybe watch a movie!”

Alex nodded. “That sounds like fun.”

I looked over at him. “Really?” I was surprised. “Do you want to try one?” I started to head back to the bathroom.

“Nope.” He held up his hands. “That sounds like fun for you and Aunt Lizzy. Not me.” He began to walk towards the door. “I’ll leave you alone and let you finish your packing.”

“Thanks.” I watched him leave then went back to the suitcase and looked inside where the only things in it were the different masks. “Well, at least that’s a start.” I sighed as I headed back to the closet.

I had just gotten back from running errands when my son Alex met me at the door.

“Oh, no.” Alex said as he pointed at the Dunkin Donuts cup in my hand. “That’s never a good sign.”

“Come on.” I laughed. “It’s a small Chi tea. I felt like I deserved a treat today.” I dropped my pocketbook on the couch and began looking around the living room. “Did you happen to see a damselfly in here?”

Alex looked confused. “A damselfly?”

“Yeah, they look kind of like a dragonfly only smaller.” I was searching the room looking for any signs of it.

Alex pointed at my Chi tea again. “Did you see this damselfly before or after you drank that?”

I put the cup on the coffee table and started to laugh. “The tea might make me a little jittery but it certainly doesn’t make me hallucinate!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “If you say so.”

“No, really! I actually saw it fly past me before I went out for my errands.” I was still looking around the room. “But I was running late so I didn’t have time to catch it before I left.”

“Okay, well good luck with finding it.” Alex patted me on the shoulder as he headed back to his room.

I picked up my tea and took another sip. “So, if I were a damselfly where would I be hiding?” I asked myself as I scanned the room again. I put my cup down and moved the blanket from the back of the couch. “Here you are!” I cried as it flew toward the picture window.

“I found it!” I called to Alex.

“Really?” Alex came out of his room to see the damselfly bouncing into the front window.

“I told you it was in here.” I was kneeling on the couch reaching out to scoop the insect into my hands.

Once it was safely in my cupped hands I stood up and began walking to the kitchen door. “Can you open the back door for me?”

Alex went ahead and held the door open for me.

“Come on little fella.” I whispered into my closed hands. “I’m going to bring you to a safe place.”

“Are you sure you’re not squishing him?” Alex asked as I walked past him and out to the back porch.

“I sure hope not.” I placed my cupped hands on the railing and slowly began to open them. The damselfly began walking around on the palms of my hands. “Aren’t you beautiful.” I said with awe.

Alex looked closer. “They are kind of interesting looking.”

“Okay, little fella it’s time for you to be free!” I reached my hands out past the railing and gently tossed it back in the air.

It was at that moment that a gust of wind came up and blew the damsel fly away. “Whoops!” I looked over at Alex my eyebrows going up. “Did you see where it went?”

Alex shook his head. “Nope.” He began to laugh. “So much for bringing it to safety.”

“He’s fine.” I reassured myself. I turned my head to call over my shoulder. “By the way, you’re welcome little fella!”

My son Alex and I had just finished taking a walk in the park and were driving home.

“Do we have time to stop by the book store?” he asked. “I wanted to get a book on Yoga.”

“We don’t have to stop.” I looked over at him and smiled. “We already have a Yoga book at home.”

“Really?” Alex took his water bottle out of the center console and began unscrewing the top.

“I bought it years ago, but I’m pretty sure I know where it is.” We were just pulling into our neighborhood.

“That would be great.” He took a sip of water and screwed the top closed. “Is it for beginners?”

I guess my pause was a bit too long because Alex began to laugh. “You’ve no idea, do you?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think I ever looked at it after I bought it.” I looked over at him and raised my eyebrows. “But I had really good intentions at the time!”

He placed the water bottle back in the center console and patted me on the shoulder. “No worries. I’ll look it over and show you a few poses later.”

“That would be great!” I pulled into the driveway. “I’m pretty sure it’s on the bookshelf in my office.”

We were walking up the front walk as Alex took the keys from me and unlocked the front door.

“Let me go get it for you.” I said as I tossed my purse on the chair and headed to my office.

Alex followed me.

I began going through the bookshelf. “Hmm…” I ran my fingers down the spines of the books checking each title. “I was positive it was here.” I had gone through all the books on the shelf.

“Are you sure you bought one?” Alex asked as he followed me to another room where there was another bookshelf.

“I’m absolutely positive.” I said as I began going through the books on another shelf. “I still have the yoga mat I got with it.”

“Where’s that?” Alex asked as he looked over my shoulder double-checking the titles.

“It’s under one of the chairs in the living room.” I turned my head to look at him. “I use it every once in a while when I do exercises so I’m not just laying on the hardwood floors.”

After I’d gone through all the titles on the shelf I stood back up and stretched my stiff back. “I can’t imagine where else it could be.”

“See.” Alex pointed to what I was doing. “Yoga would help with your tight back.”

“That’s exactly why I bought the book in the first place.” I said. “I just forgot to follow through with it.”

“Well, thanks for looking.” Alex said as he headed to the front door. “I’m going to head out to the book store. I’ll be back in a little bit.”

“Wait, I’ll come with you.” I said as I scooped my purse off the chair and followed him out the door.

“Are you looking for anything in particular?” he asked as we headed for his car.

“Well, now that you’ve inspired me I was thinking about finding a book on home Pilates without all the fancy equipment that goes with it.”

Alex turned around and started to laugh. “Do you think Pilates is going to be easier to do than Yoga?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I said I was going to look for a book. I didn’t say anything about buying it.”