I was at Louise’s house this morning.  We were watching TV and a commercial advertising some kind of medication to help with depression came on.  Now, both Louise and I know we are not doctors and depression can be a serious thing, but Louise says, “They need to try a hobby first.”   It got me thinking about all the “hobbies” I’ve had over the years.  Hobbies that not only kept me busy and taught me a few things but connected me with people I really learned to love.

There was Louise and gardening.  I certainly couldn’t do a garden without Brent, but together we grew some fine produce.  Every Spring Louise would advise on when to till, when to plant, when to take the water wells off and so on.  She always had “Master Gardener” status in the neighborhood because she just “knew” stuff, but more importantly she always had the first ripe tomato!

There was tole painting with sister Tam.  I don’t know what got her interested in painting, but because she was interested, I got interested.  An unartistic person can do some very artistic things with the right tools and the correct instruction.  It’s too bad all that painted wood went out of style decades ago. 

Rebecca and I decided to run a little business for a while…framing, as in picture framing. We found a big “chopping” table for sale and Brent and Max helped us gather all the needed equipment.  We cut matts, built frames, and even framed a couple of Minerva Taggart paintings during that little venture.  We still laugh about Bonnie Bott wanting to do an article in the newspaper on us about our “house” framing business!

Then, I moved on to kids’ skirts with Rox, Ter, Paula and mom.  We even sold our wares at the Welsh Festival for a few years.  Audrey taught me how to piece quilts.  I learned she is a very patient woman.  Ann Alger shared recipes and tutoring on food.  I still smile at the sign on her frig door, “So many cats and so few recipes.”

Smiling that’s what it’s all about.  Smiles come when you eat that first ripe tomato of the year, when you hang those tole-painted hearts with family names on your Christmas tree and when you look at that picture you and a friend framed together.  The Good Life includes hobbies, people and smiles!  That’s something we can all work for.