Three Beautiful Things 02-17-2026: Torn: On the One Hand and On the Other, Comforting Shrimp Stir Fry

1. I was torn between two things today: I wanted to drive to Whitworth University and hear Kelly Packer talk about her paintings of Butte, see the paintings, and read the poems accompanying the paintings, written by her husband, Adrian Kien. Christy, Carol, and I will go see this exhibit on Feb 24 and I thought hearing Kelly Packer's 5:30 talk would be illuminating and something I could share with my sisters. 

2. On the other hand, I was tired. 

I'd be going to Spokane with Ed and Jake Wednesday morning. 

I didn't know if I really wanted to drive from Spokane to Kellogg again in the dark. 

I stayed home. 

I rested. I started a kitchen cleaning job. I enjoyed Gibbs on my lap. I created a list of places Christy, Carol, and I might go for breakfast on Feb 24 and sent out that list. Copper and I listened to the beginning of a lecture on Beethoven. 

I went to bed early, disappointed not to hear Kelly Packer, but glad not only for the rest, but for the fact that our February Sibling Outing next week will include a visit to this exhibit. 

3. I also comforted myself with a delicious shrimp stir fry that included onion, celery, broccoli, mushrooms, spinach, chicken gyoza potstickers, and basmati rice. 

Such warming and delicious food took some of the edge off of my disappointment. 

I'm sure glad the occasional Thursday symphony lectures I enjoy take place at noon. 

I know if Kelly Packer's talk could have been earlier in the day, my energy would have been better and I would have gone for sure. 

It's all good. 

I could, but I simply don't push myself to do everything I want to.