The Perfect Day

It's one of those questions that often pops up on those cheesy "getting to know you" sheets passed out at church functions: "What would be your perfect day?" I will admit, my brain's automatic first response to this question is usually to conjure up a scene involving plentiful sunshine, miles of open water, and some type of umbrella drink (non-alcoholic, of course- still Mormon; not gonna' change). I have actually had a few of these days in my life, but the memories of them have become increasingly blurred over time. Perhaps it's because, after my mind's initial "perfect day" fantasy, I start to reflect more deeply on what I consider perfect days in my life. The umbrella drink days are rarely among them. Usually memories of perfect days play back in glimpses. I have a photographer friend ( hi Kate- I love you) who describes them as "still frames". You know, those times in your life when for a few moments, everything is so perfect that time seems to stand still........Rarely can I remember an entire day, just those moments of clarity and perfection that mingle together in my mind and make the not so perfect days easier to get through. If I could choose entire days to be able to conjure up from memory in the future, today would be one of them. There was nothing at all remarkable about today. No sunshine to speak of, no ocean, and certainly no umbrella drinks. It turns out the formula for a perfect day actually consists of plentiful clouds, boxed mac and cheese and a stack of books from the local library. Morgan is out of school this week for Spring break, and the weather has given no indication of winter clearing out for good. It was not a good day for playing outside. So, we headed to the tiny North Bingham County library, which is within (summer day) walking distance from our house, and returned home with two shoulder-breakingly heavy bags of books. The kids wanted mac and cheese for lunch.........not exactly freshly caught seafood at an exotic tropical loft.........but for me, mac and cheese is one of those comfort foods that takes me back to my childhood. So, after a nostalgiac lunch, it was time to curl up with that mountain of books. I have discovered recently that one of the only things better than reading to your children is having them read to you. Morgan is in first grade, and at only 6 years old is reading at a third grade level (o.k.- so I had to brag a little). She is at that age where reading is just beginning to open up a whole new world of possibilities in her little developing brain. She read to me and Hyrum for the first half hour, and then I read the books Hyrum had selected, which were mostly about things like dinosaurs and volcanoes. Well, by this point in the blog, you are probably looking at the time, wondering how long this chic can drone on about processed food and pteranodons. But I am coming to a (perhaps overly sentimental for some) point, I promise. And here it is: I'm sure we all have preconcieved notions of what a perfect day would be, or at least what we've been programmed by Coors Light commercials to think it should be. But take a moment and think back...........What were the really perfect days in your life? Hopefully they involve loved ones, smiles and laughter, good food, and probably not an umbrella drink in sight. With Mother's Day fast approaching, I must take a moment to say that I am grateful for a mother who taught me about perfect days. And from my own childhood, I have no fonder memories than those days of coming home to mac and cheese on the stove, a stack of unread books, and a mother waiting there to discover them with me. Thanks mom!