Balance in Life

There should be balance in life. I don't do it right. If I did, I'd walk around the block more. But here's my attempts to balance.

I have two wonderful Tom's in my life. One is the dear Tom who I had breakfast with last Saturday. He, Donna and I met again in Northridge to eat breakfast in front of fasting John. Poor John. But he is diminishing slowly in size and that is a good thing. The other Tom lives in New York and will be out to visit in late September/early October. I asked him if he makes grown women squeal with delight very often. That was my reaction when I read that he was coming out here. This Tom was responsible for putting the Times Book Awards together for years. When life at The Times was really good (two years in a row) I would go to NYNY to help him with one aspect of the awards and then Karen would come down and we would help him with another part. What a joy to have two Toms in my life to balance  - what? The squeals?

 The balance of summer fruit. OMG, Adrian made this total decadence. Buttermilk biscuits and bourbon whipped cream. I have a big container of fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries in the fridge. They loved mingling with this dessert. But wait, there is balance. I also got some little peaches that were early for peaches, but heaven in my oatmeal. Balance, right? Oatmeal must balance out whipped cream and biscuits, right? Even if you don't agree, nod your head. OK, so I bought a little maple sugar from TJs to sweeten my Irish oatmeal; but I added almonds and sunflower seeds to make it even more well rounded. And non-fat milk? Have I hit balance yet?

Where is the balance in this picture? I have touched (and finished) the lower right corner of the picture and touched the lower left corner as well. Left hand looks a little scant, but it is much more filled in this evening. I still haven't gone all the way across the bottom. There is a bunch of yellow/orange that must be stitched to the bottom of the left side reflection. But I alternate quick and easy half cross stitches (all that reflection) with the full cross stitches of black, brown and red. It really amazes me that those silhouettes are finally filled in, as are their shadows. But hold out your arms, straight out to your sides. Pretend you are touching the right side of the picture and pretend that you are touching the left side of the picture. Close to balancing, right?