in the Middle of Vacation - I've thrown out my list

Like most of us, I looked forward to having a break from my full-time role in the weeks leading up to it. I made plans.

I was armed with a long list of things I planned to accomplish, the people I wanted to see, creative tasks that sat on the back-burner while working and goals for my long free, I'm-so-spoiled days.

I'm not sure how you handle the carefree days of summer but I am surprised (why would I be?) how quickly the time goes by. My list of things to do still sits with very little crossed off and oh my goodness there are only a three weeks left. (Yes, I did say that I was spoiled.) I have had many laughs and coffees with my catch-up-with friends. How do you estimate the value of that?

An extra yoga class each week has been squeezed in to the day time hours, instead of racing racing racing to an evening class. Walking in the morning, smelling my neighbours cooking their bacon and puttering in their gardens has set my senses tingling.

Boho Jewelry ValueVillageDIY

A few trinkets have emerged, created while sitting in the dining room a glass of wine by my side, watching some "girlie" Fashion Friday show (recorded earlier that day). A few trips to Value Village to secure some discarded jewelry pieces that could be re-born, not quite on my list but fun nevertheless.

Encounter in the Dress Aisle

If I were a girl, he said to me, what size do you think I'd be?

That's how our conversation started, when I met a young man in the ladies dress section at our local Value Village. He said that he was doing a skit for his friends' wedding and was going to do a flirting dance. He needed the proper dress.

I don't often make it to Value Village, work and other interests keep me from this wonderland of books and creative supplies, bits of fabric, vintage clothing, bags of buttons and jewelry waiting to be re-purposed.

I gave the young man my best estimate of what size dress he should be wearing and continued looking in the racks in my size. Ooh, the yellow Sandwich dress looked delicious...but was it the colour for me, was I too old, would I look like a Popsicle? Hesitation.

I glanced down the aisle, he moved dresses cautiously and appeared to be analyzing how they would look on his masculine body. Move over, I though to myself, Personal Shopper to the rescue. I told him that I'd come back to help as he really must look divine for his friends' wedding!