So, as I literally wind up the last minutes of my 47th successful no-expenses-included cruise around our Sun, I do so with a grin on my face and a lightness in my soul I haven’t felt in a long while. Long enough I can’t remember the last time I did.

But if you’re interested, please let me tell you a story to summarize the day that it was, and I promise you’ll be rewarded at the end.

Jo isn’t able to be here this weekend, which might have been upsetting except for the fact we had had a good trip out together the day before, and we kept in touch through the day. My only regret is that she wasn’t here to share it with us.

It started with me waking up to Caitlyn having done the dishes, started the dishwasher, cleared the counters, and disappointedly gave me “heck” for getting up too early- she was starting on pancakes, bacon and eggs- a good chuckle, and a good start to the day.

Next was coffee and opening my gift – a pair of very cool D&D miniatures to paint and a 1/2lb (!?!!!) Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in a very cool retro comic book themed bag. She was more excited I liked the bag than anything else, she was proud of finding that.

Later, a quick trip to the grocery store with Caitlyn for a few things for my dinner of choice- homemade pizza with handmade, hand rolled whole wheat dough. (Yes, they were delicious!)

Toby (Mikayla, for those that don’t know) and I took both dogs for a walk after lunch, and I’m happy to report it went well enough that I wore out all three of them! Met a couple other people and beasties on the trip, and was a good learning run for both dogs.

After dinner, a movie with the kids (Turning Red, yes it’s Disney, yes we enjoyed it) and then wind down for the night and more laughs and stories over birthday carrot cake, which brings us to that reward I promised those of you that have stuck with me here.

Having turned off the lights and getting undressed, my eye caught a darker-than-usual blotch directly where I normally park my carcass when I get into bed. So, I grabbed it. And immediately deduced that it was fecal matter. Of the feline variety. And joy, an extra special bonus present in that it was a half-and half- half ‘goodenfirm’, half soft-serve. Startled the kid with my cry of “Are you for fucking real!?!” After I turned on the light and confirmed the discovery.

After explaining to her through her door, her chuckles and giggly “Aw, they left you a present” followed me as I went looking for clean sheets.

Now, tucked into bed and writing this watching history documentaries, I’m not even mad about it. No pictures were taken today, no phones whipped out to “capture the moment” and post it to some platform for likes or hearts or whatever.

But I’ve got a day full of memories; good memories, memories that become the layers of armor we need to take on the challenges of life and bounce back, those layers that remind us of the good, that pull the curtains open and shine a light in the dark when we need them most, and best of all, they weigh nothing, they can never be taken from me, and can never be lost except through some neurological catastrophe.

Today was perfect. All of it.