When Life is Disturbingly Normal -- E.

Keeping house. There have been very special days here at home in Dallas, when I have been surprised to discover how fulfilling it can be to keep a house running. Special days, when the mundane tasks of doing laundry, keeping kitchen, and cleaning house bring me a lot of joy. Special days, when I become Ranger Bill in my own home, doing it all "for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done" (cue terrible radio organ).
Saturday was not one of those special days. Saturday I saw this . . .
. . . and just got depressed. I know, I know -- I hear you, everybody, thanks -- that's not even very many dishes. But it's big messy pots, and I hate those. Well, with or without deep fulfillment, the dishes need to be done. There's my deep thought for the day. So I did them, without much joy.
Then I realized why I was feeling down. It was because I needed, on an emotional level, to bake cookies with my daughter.

Peanut butter cookies, in fact. I've got a great recipe. You just put a bunch of this stuff together and it comes out great every time.
There, you see? A little butter, a little shortening, plus an egg, peanut butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Flour, salt, and rising agents are forthcoming. Awesome!
They're even better baked, yes. Come over and have a few.
And the Great Circle of Life continues.