I am a fan of pockets. I included one in my wedding dress, which I made, and of course in John's wedding pants which I also sewed. There are things we want to keep close, and having a snug spot for them assures that. In the last few years many of us added a mask to the accessories of phone, keys and wallet. Being caught without them left us feeling helpless, so we tucked them in. 

 

There are invisible essentials we do well to carry with us as well. One is remembrance of past kindness. Sometimes a five second story is all it takes to snuff out a burst of annoyance. 

 

"He drove all the way back from Pittsburgh."

 

"She took me out for lunch for my birthday."

 

"When that painful anniversary came up, she called."

 

God knows that sometimes I leave those antidotes behind like a forgotten wallet, and handily replaces it. The other day I felt a smoldering feeling about John and he asked what I would like in my daily smoothie. How could resentment help but be extinguished? 

 

I consider those gestures to be an act of grace, which is a word I don't often use unless we are about to eat lunch. Both of them are delicious.