As I pulled up to Mudita Yoga, I saw a woman with a yoga mat starring at the door of the center, then walk away. Hmmm. Sure enough. According to the notice on the front door, class had been canceled. Here I had summoned up my willingness to be the clumsy “beginner” in a class situation, and I’d been spared by circumstances beyond my control.

Yet, I was disappointed. Shoot! My new experience plans had been thwarted!

So… I can’t say I did anything new yesterday. It just didn’t happen.

But today was a new day! And a very hot one, too! In 94-degree heat, I went to the Kingston Farmer’s Market, which felt oddly quiet and slow, most likely due to the oppressive, sticky heat. Then, I went to the Kingston Libary, something I’ve been wanting to do for a while.

It’s such a small libary! In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a library with such a small collection of books. It was kind of cute! And the librarian was so sweet. I found a couple of books to check out, then went through the process of getting my Kingston library card. Another first!

This afternoon, I’ve been reading one of the books I checked out, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, and resting, mostly. This has been an incredibly hard, taxing week, and to have this lazy Saturday to read and relax has been very healing.

By the way, libraries are so very cool. I forgot just how cool they are. In this time when so much of what we read is online, or can be ordered online from Amazon.com, I forgot how much you can get FOR FREE from your public library.

Go check it out.

And I had about three days of bad ones. Honestly, I’ve been up against some horrible, heartwrenching challenges over these past few days, unlike I’ve ever experienced before. They’ve taken me to a new edge… and threatened to push me over. But I’m holding on. By my fingernails.

But there were some sweet moments as well. Like watching squirrels napping in the tree outside my window. They were just lounging, one with his little body splayed out, the other looking down, as if in a trance. Basking in the summer heat, perfectly still, for almost an hour.

Yesterday, in an effort to lift myself up and out of a dark place, I took myself out for Indian food. I LOVE Indian food, and I haven’t had any really good Indian food since I moved here. So, I made an adventure out of it by choosing an Indian restaurant in Red Hook, since I’d never been to Red Hook and going there would pack two new experiences into one: new town, new restaurant.

Red Hook was cute, funky and small. Most of the town consists of one main intersection, so it was easy to walk and take it in. The Indian restaurant I went to was pretty disappointing, at least, what I ordered wasn’t that great. But, as I said, you take the bad with the good, and vice versa.

Today, which is Day 22 of this 31-day focus, I’m going to a yoga class. Now, I haven’t done yoga in years! And I certainly haven’t been to a class here in Kingston, so this will be yet another new experience.