Madeline, and Life

In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines
Lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.
In two straight lines they broke their bread,
And brushed their teeth, and went to bed.

They smiled at the good, and frowned at the bad,
And sometimes they were very sad.
They left the house at half-past nine,
in two straight lines, in rain or shine.

From Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans. Missy's favourite library book this week. She turns the pages and points to each, saying (for the left-hand page) "brush their teeth" and (the right) "went to bed". Brush their teeth, went to bed. Brush their teeth, went to bed. Good story, I reckon. And no one could tell it better than that.

I love children's stories that are written in rhymes. It feels so satisfying to read, and the girls pay more attention because the tune of the story is attractive and catching to their always-learning, joy-finding little minds.

It's funny how the little things can be so satisfying. Reading a funny story to a captivated 3-year-old, watching two little girls potter about in the back garden (as I'm doing right now through the window next to my desk), enjoying a home-cooked meal and watching your family enjoy it too. Maybe that's the key to it - seeing other people's enjoyment - especially others that you love and would do anything for. To see them finding even little bits and pieces of happiness is such a treasure, and to be providing some of that happiness - well, what an honour, I say.

I was just talking on the phone to my dearest friend, Lusi, and we were reminding one another how strange life is. 5 years ago we were finishing our degrees at college, thinking that we knew everything and believeing that we had to "do it all" right this minute before we missed our chance. Well, here we are, 5 years on and both living life in ways that just weren't in the script back then. We haven't "missed our chance", not at all, we've taken different chances and found new joys that we hadn't thought of back then when we knew everything.

There's always the rest of one's life for all the chances one can find. And hey, I plan to jolly well find them!