Stop and Smell the Wisteria

     I had to park around the block from my destination.  My destination was not a fun one and it was squished between the rushed ride home from work and a deadline to pick the kids up from school.  Harried as usual I didn't have the moments to spare.  I was grumbling under my breath...miserable and cranky...and it hit me like a slap in the face.  A beautiful, sweet slap in the face.  I believe it slowed time for a second or two and held me there like a cartoon.  A giant wisteria hung down upon me like a scene from a play and stopped me in my tracks.  I literally stopped to smell the wisteria.  (Roses are overrated anyway).  I took care of what I needed to and headed back to the car...only this time I was excited.  I found the glorious purple blooms and lingered.  Lingered.  I might even have closed my eyes for a second to properly breathe in their scent.
     I grew sad for a moment about the plant that I put into the ground so long ago in the yard of my house.  The house that is no longer mine....located not all that far from where I was standing.  It took many summers to grow high and lush but the blooms never came.  They take years to visit the vines.  I planted the wisteria for the investment that it would be.  Blossoms might be there now but I don't get to  see or smell them...and that is IF the new owners haven't removed the plant.
     I snapped back to the present.  I stayed in the moment.  The moment of gratitude and sweetness.  I was thankful for what I was experiencing now.  I shook off regrets.  I shook off the crankies.  I was glad for the now and looked forward to the later.  In that moment I thanked myself.  I also gave myself a little mental pat on the back.  I am getting it.  I was grateful for the longer walk in the warm air and for the gift of purple blossoms that the trek took me to.  I paused and wrote about it in a status update hoping to remind some others of the moments we can cherish.  Tonight, as I sat down and wondered what my new thing of the day was going to be I realized I had experienced it already and it was probably one of the most valuable so far. 
     When we are led in another direction it is probably for a reason.  Don't be afraid of the path.  Don't grumble at the journey.  And sure as hell take time to smell the flowers along the way!!!