Two beautiful things happened yesterday.

The temperature rose above 50.

And I had the day off.

After a busy and stressful week at work, I had actually planned on going into the office on Saturday morning to get a head start on a few things, but then I saw the weekend forecast and the concept repulsed me.

I ended up spending most of the day outside. I started the morning with a 3mi run along the river and through a hilly neighborhood. After showering, I cleaned my room, put on a slouchy spring outfit, and walked downtown to grab some lunch. I had the idea of getting some kind of spicy thai noodles, but the restaurant was closed. I ended up getting a gyro, parking myself on a park bench, and inhaling the thing in the most unlady-like fashion.

I don’t know if it was the sunshine, the lush sounds of Lana Del Rey in my earbuds, or the flavor clash of spicy gyro meat and cucumber sauce, but I was filled with a sense of total contentedness. My sense of hope was renewed. Life seemed beautiful again. The shreiking trio of middle schoolers in the pavilion didn’t annoy me. I wasn’t filled with jealous rage directed at the couple having an engagement shoot near the fountain. And I wasn’t even bothered when a wedding party showed up, the bride glowing with a slap-happy groom traipsing alongside.

I woke up this morning with stiff legs and messy hair, pleased to see that I have another day of beautiful weather ahead of me. I baked some scones (banana, peanut butter, and blueberry/chocolate chip) and I’m planning on returning to the park with a thermos of tea and Flannery O’Connor’s short stories.