A couple of days ago I was walking along the back streets of the suburb where I live, Pearl Jam blasting loudly through my iPod helping to take my mind off my trekking companion – a back-pack laden with a 30-kilogram sandbag.
The setting sun was cloaking the developing storm clouds with a rich, golden hue as it slipped towards the western horizon.
On the east coast of Australia we’ve just switched to daylight saving time, putting our clocks forward by one-hour. That means I can now exercise in the afternoon with some daylight, or at least a setting sun instead of the usual darkness.
But, as usual, I’m digressing…
Maybe it was the spontaneity or the predictability of the magnificent sunset, but I got around to thinking about spontaneity and predictability in life.
I asked myself which camp was I in, spontaneity or predictability?
Or did I have a foot in both?
A bit like the sun, predictably it sets each day, but the spontaneity is in the way it happens…
I pondered that if we lived as we should, “in the moment we are in”, than life would always be spontaneous. You’d never be planning for the future and you’d have no concern for what has come to pass.
Mind you that sounds great in principle. But whilst we do need to plan some things, life can still be spontaneous.
Surely?
Janet, my partner, has often told me that my spontaneity and good looks are traits she finds attractive. Frequently opining that it is exciting not knowing what journey we will take next as we walk arm-in-arm through life.
My parents loathe this spontaneity whenever they visit.
They both need to know what they’ll be having for breakfast in one week’s time, so spontaneity doesn’t work too well for them, predictability all the way. But each to their own I say, and that is fine!
But was there a bit of the “chip off the old block” in me?
Letting this musing go, my thoughts turned to Janet’s birthday which is coming up in a couple of days, this Saturday…
She loves birthdays!
Well, you know what I’m mean, she loves celebrating her special day, the day she snared me, birthday cake, family and friends, maybe a present or two. And a bunch of flowers always brings a smile to her face…
And her birthday signals a very special day in our lives together. I proposed to Janet on her birthday in 1983, marrying some months later!
We were living in a small cottage together, furnished with only one bed, two sofa chairs purchased from an Op store, and a dog, a Great Dane I inadvertently kidnapped from outside its owners house (I’ll explain it some other time, but it did go on to live happily-ever-after with its true owner)…
The “proposal” was a very spontaneous event.
That morning, I got down on my knee at the end of the bed, dressed in Top Hat and Tails and asked her to marry me!
We had spoken of marriage but she didn’t see it coming this particular day, nor did I until a day or so before…
And on our wedding day Janet wore the Chanel Number 5 Perfume I bought that year for her birthday…
And every birthday since I have bought her a bottle of Chanel Number 5 and she has each and every one of the finished bottles secreted away in a special spot in her wardrobe.
She wouldn’t hear of any other present on her birthday…
Yes, as much as we both like spontaneity this is one thing we are both happy to say is totally predictable in our lives…
Happy birthday Sweetie…!
Xplore 
I love your ponderings. I’m definitely in the spontaneous category for certain things but in the predictability for others. I like predictability in my home and work life because it gives me a solid base in which to live my active life relatively spontaneously. Mind you, I’ve had some pretty spontaneous and unplanned career changes too …
As for daylight savings: we don’t have it up here in Queensland. It means the sun will be coming up before 5am and sets around 6-7pm. The good thing for me about not having daylight savings is that I’m a morning person so I get extra outdoor time before work 🙂
Very cute about the Chanel No. 5 🙂
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As you might guess, I lean to the spontaneous. Kayaking this weekend? Yes! A sail? You bet! But interestingly, I can only be that way when there is a certain amount or order and predictability in my life. As in all thing, there must be balance. You tell a lovely story about your wife’s birthdays. I smiled all the way through!
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It is all a balance…! Enjoy the kayak, I’m kayaking tomorrow, but it is freezing cold at the moment in Sydney…so we’ll see!
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How sweet!
I’m not usually all that spontaneous, but today I spontaneously left work early to attend a baseball playoff game. My manager decided to go too, so that made it a bit easier to be spontaneous. =]
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And why not!
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Lovely!
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I think there is a difference between predictability and tradition, and tradition is what you describe here. My late husband used to send me a dozen roses every year on Valentine’s Day because this was a huge fundraiser for our local public broadcasting station. And some traditions, like the Chanel and the roses remind us of why we are connected to certain people and how important they are to us. A lovely story, thank you for sharing; and happy birthday Janet!
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Yes, it is very much a tradition…and we’ll put an extra rose from the garden in the vase for you!
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Awww, thanks. 🙂
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How lucky am I? Chanel No.5 is still my favourite perfume!! And how lucky is Baz….no agonising over what to buy!!!! Janet (aka Sweetie)
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an early happy birthday to janet :} and once again you have balance……..
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How sweet Baz!!! Well done!!!
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I have to admit, I am so jealous right now. Here in the US, we are counting down our last couple of weeks using Daylight Savings Time 😦
November 4th is D-Day here. I’m going to miss my after work activities like hitting the trails for some mountain biking, watching the sunset on the beach, going for a run.
I HATE saying good-bye to Daylight Savings time. Enjoy it for me come November 4th!!!
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I love daylight savings, it’s so wonderful to be going on walks after work and it’s not pitch black!!
Also, Chanel, the best gift a girl could ask for. Your present story is so sweet 🙂
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Thankyou, Janet is so sweet!!
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