In 1992 my first husband and I bought a cabin in Washington that was built in 1966. It was erected on a reservoir on the SE flank of Mt St Helens. When she erupted in 1980, 33 years ago this past weekend, the cabin withstood the ordeal and survived through the turbulent flooding which ensued after the explosion. It left the lake bottom in front of the cabin, 40 feet shallower than before. To this day, it still is a barren wasteland under the water.

Atop ‘Eagle’s Clif’f looking north at Mt St Helens.

The cabin forty-seven years after construction, is still off-grid. Only one hour from the infamous interstate joining Canada to Mexico, our private retreat is still something from the past. Only a year and a half ago, a cell tower was erected in the vicinity; up till then there was no phone service what-so-ever. And of course I don’t have Verizon, so for me it is still a remote cabin far away from the maddening crowd. No electricity, no phone, with water plumbed from rain and snow melt off the mountain herself. We do have two bathrooms, however just last Friday, the outhouse was finally demolished.

Awesome blue skies between the Douglas Firs.

Today we went up to do some work. My illustrious handyman-can-do-anything-fix-it-guy-second-husband, put in solar several years ago. In addition to candles, firelight and propane, we now are very civilized with solar lights. The reason I’m explaining all this is because today it was very Zen. It was totally a chop-wood, carry-water, contemplative,  kind of afternoon. It’s really the little things in life which make it charming, wonderful, joyful and meaningful. I know you’ll think me totally daft, however my fix-it guy, turned on the back-up generator for me and I vacuumed the entire cabin, all four bedrooms, great room and kitchen. I took great pleasure in being able to suck up dead critters that collected over the winter. I took joyful pride in being able to get the dust bunnies and dog hair creeping heavily under the beds. I know big deal right? Yes! It was a big deal.

We take life, the people and things in it so-for-granted ~ daily. It wasn’t but a short twenty years ago, most people didn’t have cell phones, yet alone every kid across America. Now we get pissy if a call is dropped while we’re driving ~ a convenience we take so-for-granted. Having had no electricity for the past twenty-one years, it is a gift when conveniences we take as normal in every other facet of our lives, become available if only for a moment. It truly was a joyful and fun afternoon. (To explain, no, I do not have a vacuum up there; we have no room to keep it, nor has it been on the priority list to buy; we borrowed the home vac for the spring cleaning.)

I would invite you to reassess the things in your life. Truly examine them, decide if you are taking anything or anyone for granted. Look through a new window and see another view. Perhaps it is your job, your relationship, even your home or your overly-techie phone. Re-evaluate and embrace simple things from a place of joy and watch the changes that ensue. It’s remarkable the difference in the outcome and within yourself.

‘Sunlight in the Birch’

And one more thing to note. Dismantling the word, granted, is ranted, or rant. Ranting and raving on about something is based in anger. Anger needs to be addressed, let go and released for us to be totally free and happy. Instead of ranting about the piles of carpenter ants, I was happily removing them. Life is awesome.

Cosmic sunshine to you.