On The Last Day Of The Year

I have had a perfect day-the perfect way to end what was probably the best year of my life.

You know how sometimes you plan to do something, and your plans don't work out? If you're me, you then try not to get annoyed, while desperately trying to salvage something of the day. So Christmas Eve afternoon turned into one of THOSE days. We were on a street corner in the city, plans dashed. We had just visited a large and lovely church, and although I am not religious and this church was not my own religion, there was a quiet spirituality in the air, and I lit a candle in thanks for the wonderful year we have had. While I did it, I also said a short prayer for a man sitting in a nearby chapel by himself. He looked so alone, so sad. Anyway, shortly after that, we were outside, plans in disarray, when all of a sudden this bus went by.

The bus was headed in the direction of a neighbourhood near ours, and there was a stop right in front of us. We were a long way from my neighbourhood, but inspiration struck, and I checked the sign at the bus stop. Sure enough, the bus route wound it's way past some of the most impressive sights in the city, before heading toward our neck of the woods. We hopped on the next bus, and for about a buck, we got a delightful tour of the best parts of the city. It was an amazing find. Equally as good was the discovery that the bus dropped us right near this cozy little restaurant we've been meaning to try, where we had a charming Christmas Eve dinner.

So this morning, we rolled out of bed early to go collect a fresh houseguest from the airport. After leaving her luggage at the house, we wandered our neighbourhood and picked up supplies for tonight. Then we hopped on the bus, our new scenic tour bus, and took her around the city. We had planned to go to this restaurant I've wanted to try, but when we got there it was closed. It was in a neighbourhood we used to live in, so we wandered for a bit. We ended up at this gorgeous dim sum place that was incredibly inexpensive, delicious, and beautifully decorated, with kind staff to boot (Miss M threw her spoon from home on the floor, and the waiter thoughtfully brought her another one AND RAN HER SPOON THROUGH THE DISHWASHER!). At the end of dinner, instead of regular shaped fortune cookies, they had long round ones with hollow centres, and the fortune was rolled up like a scroll inside. Mine reads:

Happiness is a healthy mental attitude, a grateful spirit, a clear conscience, and a heart full of
love.

Happy new year. May 2011 bring much happiness for each and every one of us, and a magic scenic bus on those days when it feels like we could use a little help.