comfort

Just hearing this word instantly relaxes me. One little word that can mean so much. Live in comfort, comfort food, COMFORTable, COMFORTing, shall I go on? A tiny bit of this can make a crappy day better, put kick in your step, feel like a warm scarf. Comfort is not a term that requires vast research to discover its meaning. Comfort can be found in the simplest of items, gestures, words. To me comfort may involve a fresh pair of warm socks after having cold clammy feet all day or that first cup of joe to start my day. Comfort can also involve close friends, homemade mac and cheese, Billie Holiday on the record player, yes, I said record player! Nothing is more comforting than that ethereal scratchiness that torch song singers evoke on vinyl. Comfort is a cinnamon candle, patchouli oil on my husband's neck or baby powder on my child at bedtime. As I've stated in the past, pepperoni greasiness wafting from a pizza box comforts me just as a cigarette does after a good cry. Granny afghans and down COMFORTers coupled with flannel sheets make going to bed early a well deserved luxury. A good book, no matter what your favorite genre is always welcome in down time. Good times or bad, family also deserves a special place on the comfort scale such as a mother's hug or a father's pat on the back when feeling proud. Comfort can pertain to one's financial success, having a comfortable life means job well done. Comfort can also be the pride one takes when unlocking the door to their very own business and flipping the sign on the door to open. To me that equals mine and to ME that means job well done. That alone makes me comfortable. Comfort is seeing the smile of satisfaction on my husband's face when he walks in the door after teaching all day, the smell of a home-cooked meal drifting from the kitchen, and my child smiling dada! So as not to leave anything out, comfort is watching my child's beautiful smile beam from ear to ear as he gets to hang with his older "brother" and torture the poor 8 year old as said 8 year old patiently hangs with him. As I said earlier, so many meanings for one small word, I could go on all night. Instead I will let you dedicated reader reflect upon your own meaning of this word while I welcome the late-night comfort of my husband's after work warm kiss and hug. Goodnight world.