I’ve had a tough week. Lots of stress with the start of what we call Dell’Acqua-Polooza (the summer month-long visit of C’s eldest sister and kid, which requires about a billion family events), trying to finish unpacking and getting settled while trying to work, cat fights at 5am twice this week, and then a confrontation with said pain-in-the-ass sister, and, well, it’s just been unpleasant.

Today, however, has made for a fabulous change.

I had a great meeting with a client in Encinitas. So positive that I didn’t even mind the INSANE traffic on the 5 heading back. The fact he actually paid me on the spot didn’t hurt either.

Then, this afternoon, I had some free-ish time and thought I’d run to the store to pick up a couple of things. It’s a very short drive over there, and in the heat and (surprise!) humidity here, that was just as well.

So, I just got back from that grocery where (amongst other items) I bought some beer for Christopher. He’s had a tough week too and I thought he might enjoy a yummy beer after work. Diet be damned (okay, it is light beer).

I stacked all the items on the conveyor, and pushed my cart to the end while they got scanned. Suddenly, I noticed the items weren’t moving any more. I looked up, and saw that the girl working the check-out was looking at me oddly. In fact, she looked at me twice, thought for a good 10 seconds, then meekly asked to see my ID.

I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Carded, less than a month before my 40th birthday.

And yes, I think I was in particularly “cute” mode–tanned, in a white stretchy tshirty-type shirt, an arm full of bangles, denim hip-hugging capris, flip-flops, and ponytail poking out from under my ever-present Padres cap (for driving), but wow…carded.

Of course, I know that just means I looked under 30 to the cashier (the rule at Vons is to card anyone who looks under 30), and she must have the vision of a comatose bat, but I’ll take it!!!