Easy like a Saturday morning.

OK, so, the posts so far have been bitter, and I apologize for that. I have always been a lot better at writing about my frustrations than I have been at celebrating my blessings. While I am aware of this, it is something that probably won’t change anytime soon, but I assure you, all is well. I have become better at identifying the moments of peace and savoring them. This weekend for instance…Every weekend should start this way. After some early morning running around on Saturday, I came back home to (finally) brew a batch of beer. I had forgotten how meditative the process is, which is why I enjoy it so much. After sanitizing my equipment, I started the wort boiling. Just listening to the water in the pot is a concentrated act of quieting the mind-the boiling point is very important in brewing. With no thermometer, I listen for the indicator of boiling-the sound goes from the whisper of the wind in the trees to a brook rolling over rocks in the bed. The grains reach saturation and the sound changes again to the gurgling of mud in a hot spring. Beneath the sounds of the sweet tea in the pot, the strains of my playlist reach out from the other room; every now and then it catches my attention and I take a moment to sing along. I add the malt and stir it until it dissolves-this is where the sound becomes most important. If the temperature gets too high, the wort will boil over, not only potentially ruining the batch, but also making a mess that is near impossible to clean up. I sit cross legged on the floor and light a pipe. Instantly, the fragrant tobacco mixes with the sweet scent of the malt, an incense that I wish I could reproduce. I close my eyes and experience it all-the sound, the smell, the taste. Damara comes to join me, resting her head in my lap. This is peace. This is happiness. These are the moments that define a life.