Sugar Ray Leonard

we landscaped our front yard today.

keep in mind, this is a really big deal.

it's been on our agenda since we moved in and we were really looking forward to the new and improved version of 602 green.

i assumed it would be a day filled with digging and weeding on our hands and knees but we probably spent 50% of our time at home depot picking out plants, trees and purchasing all of the various accouterments - potting soil, fertilizer, sod, etc. as if shopping for house stuff wasn't enough to keep me entertained on a saturday morning, we also had the pleasure of getting to know one of the home depot greeters - sugar ray leonard.

yes, that was actually the name on his orange home depot apron.

even if i wasn't currently writing this blog, sugar ray would inspire it. picture a 70+ year-old black man dressed to the nines. now, we're talking a full on suit probably from 1977 but maintained like he bought it yesterday. he had on the shiniest two-toned wingtips i've ever seen. and if his impeccable dress wasn't enough to catch your attention, he was possibly the most charming man i've met in a long time.

he wished everyone a blessed day and explained to us that each day he wakes up alive and healthy is a gift that he cherishes.

i couldn't help but think that if only the rest of us kept that state of mind, maybe we'd be fortunate enough to be as delightful as sugar ray when we're 70 something.