My Wabi Sabi Sex Life

My personal blog sports the Japanese catch phrase of Wabi Sabi. This is the art of finding the perfection in imperfection.

I feel so strongly about this particular concept I've considered writing a book about it. After all, it's not the end result of all "t's" crossed and "i's" dotted that makes life about as organized, civilized and BORING as a JC Penny Catalog. It's the "Oh my God I can't find the map but look go left and WOW check out that crazy new store and hey that looks like a fun place to eat and WASN'T THIS THE GREATEST WOOPSI-DO EVER" that make our earthly journeys electric, passionate and enlightening.

Goodbye, shopping malls and hello thrift stores. Go away, chain restaurants and bring on the mom and pop stands. Juicy Couture? Bleeeech. But a vintage Orange Julius tee-shirt in just my size with nary a stain in sight? Bring it on!

Some might call this attitude an excuse to make mistakes... to lower the bar... to live like a pig. (Oink!) But I have to digress. No one, more than myself, wants to live a golden Americana life. After all, I went out of my way to marry a Ward Cleaver for my Lucille Ball blunders.

But sometimes, despite my best efforts, hijinks happen.

The problem is that while they are fun on paper (example: A million dollar tv pilot deal) they aren't so amusing when you've driven for 2 hours to arrive at your cabin for a fun filled family getaway.

And the in-laws (who, trust me, don't subscribe to the Wabi Sabi Club nor would they sign up for a free email membership with fun updates about what to do if you should lock your keys in the car on the hottest afternoon of summer) are coming for a visit.

And upon pulling into the driveway with very cranky children, you discover another dirty SUV parked in your place.

And while at first you think it's a neighbor, you suddenly realize SOMEONE ELSE HAS BOOKED THE CABIN.

Given it's the 4th of July holiday, naturally all hotels are booked.

Nor would your very practical, and very irritated husband, want to stay in one anyway because it's simply not a logical thing to do when you have your own home but you just cannot enter it.

And, since it's almost 9PM, all the local restaurants are closed and you're forced to hit an El Pollo Loco.

An hour later, with bellies bursting of grill fried chicken and day old flan, you head home down the hill, attempting not to puke due to windy roads and exhaustion.

I was frustrated and sad to say the least. (But no puking! Hooray!)

But, since I couldn't make the most of my Big Bear blunder, I decided to make the most of my stay-at-home 4th of July adventure. Armed with some icecream, a water hose and some steaks, we are having a lovely day none-the-less. Rex isn't cranky (we had some fireworks of our own at 2am last night... what better way to end a day of mishaps?) I've made the incredibly brilliant mental decision to call the rental agency before any future trips, and our kids are the picture of what this day is all about: Living in a land of freedom where a little food and a little time as a family fixes everything.

Life sure isn't perfect, but when I give up my ideals about what I NEED and enjoy WHAT IS, it's pretty darn special. That, to me, is life. That, to me, is marriage. That is Wabi Sabi.

Anything Wabi Sabi in your world?

Posted by Andrea Frazer


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