I honestly do not know how this day could have gone any better. Monday is winding down and the sun has set, but the incredible energy lingers as I relax on the deck with the pooches scattered about.

For over three weeks, just as THE LION KING was getting underway at Schuster Center with Dayton Live, my 25+ year old refrigerator died. The freezer still worked but the lower end was just barely keeping things cool. I kept a large cooler in the kitchen and replaced ice packs three times a day.

This morning, my studio manager, Rita Bomholt, appeared on my deck at 7 AM to let me know I needed to get things ready. Someone from Debris Dispatch would be arriving at 9 AM to haul away my refrigerator and she gave me a number I was to text to let them know Debris Dispatch had arrived. I busied myself moving things around in the kitchen to allow for moving space.

At 9 AM sharp, Phil from Debris Dispatch backed his van and trailer into my driveway. I texted the telephone number as instructed and learned Phil & Lisa Kloos, the parents of a former piano student, Devin, were giving me a refrigerator that Phil had obtained at an estate sale.

As Phil from Debris Dispatch was navigating the refrigerator through the awkward turns of the small entryway, Phil Kloos appeared in the doorway. The two men collaborated on the removal of the old appliance and teamed up to bring in the very nice new one.

Phil and Lisa…. Thank you!

By 9:45 AM, I was putting the kitchen back together, permanently removing items and rearranging other areas. At 10:15 AM, I decided to take advantage of still cooler temperatures to mow the yard. When 11 AM rolled around, I had finished mowing and blowing and returned to the kitchen. Amazon delivered a deer fence, 8 feet high and 100 feet long to drape the rotting fence to keep Hoskins from escaping into the fenced-in easement between my yard and the high school parking lot. I should have named her Houdini as she is the master of finding the smallest opening. I used my staple gun to attach the deer fence which is entirely in the shade of the south side of the yard.

While working on the fence along the kitchen sidewalk, I lost my balance, took a spill, and landed on the walk. I praise my theatre training as I went down in what seemed like slow-motion, landing on my left, wallet-padded hip and right arm. No injuries or scrapes. I hopped (for what “hop” means to me, now), checked for any injuries, and resumed attaching the fence.

At 3 PM, the kitchen was put back together, and I loved the larger amount of space after rearranging some items. The pooches seemed to like the addition of a walk-through gate which had been at the other entrance where I keep a bookcase for pet food storage and treats. I figured I needed the gate at the entrance rather than the wooden, folding baby gate which I loathe.

Once the dogs were fed at 3:30 PM, I hopped in the shower and was ready by the time my grocery delivery arrived at 4 PM, just in time for the start of my teaching day.

My present days are far from being as busy and activity-filled as they once were, but today was a day much like those days with which I was so familiar and truly enjoyed.