The Lost Joy of Waiting
A flash of red, a ketchup jingle, and the quiet thrill of anticipation in the digital age
A few days ago, I opened the mailbox and spotted a familiar flash of red tucked between a couple of bland envelopes. For a second, I thought it might be a long-lost Netflix DVD or maybe something exciting addressed to me.
Nope.
Priority Mail for Chuck. (Sorry, buddy—I was rooting for myself.)
Still, that sliver of red sparked something. A warm, tingly shiver of anticipation rippled through me—quick, electric, and unmistakable. And just as quickly, it vanished. It wasn’t 2003, and it definitely wasn’t a Netflix envelope. But for a brief, beautiful moment, it felt like the lights dimming before a new Star Wars movie.
Back in the day, that red Netflix envelope was everything. A promise. A portal. A perfectly timed escape. Sure, you could shuffle into the local video store on a Friday night, but it was always a gamble. Like an Easter egg hunt where all the golden eggs were gone by 6 p.m., and you were left with a Hulk movie or something starring Ben Affleck. (Sorry, Ben—you were in some duds.)
But Netflix—Netflix came to you. You didn’t pick from what was left. You picked what you wanted, and then you waited. And that wait—surprisingly—was part of the joy.
Fast-forward to today: we’ve got oceans of content streaming into our pockets and living rooms, overflowing from a dozen platforms, screaming “Watch me!” from every direction. And yet, nothing feels quite as deliciously expectant as seeing that red envelope in your mailbox.
Then I read
’s newsletter A Beautiful Reawakening, where she writes about how small sensory triggers—an aroma, a texture, a color—can hold entire forgotten worlds. Something about that really stayed with me. Because that flash of red? It wasn’t just a memory—it was a portal. Not to another world, but to a feeling.And I started wondering: was it just a coincidence? Or something else? A whisper of serendipity? Maybe both. Coincidence is interesting, sure. But serendipity—that feels like a message.
Was that a nudge from the universe? A reminder that anticipation used to be part of the joy—the emotional build-up that makes an experience sweeter when it finally arrives?
So I started paying attention. Where does anticipation still live in my life?
And I have to admit—that question immediately cued the old ketchup jingle in my head:
“Anticipation… Anticipation… It’s making me wait.”
On loop. Of course.
For those who are way too young to remember:
Curious, I asked Chuck what he looks forward to. Without hesitation, he said, “Your Sunday Sip essays.”
He’s such a sweet man.
His list kept going: our travel adventures, Thursday night dinners at Casey’s, a few other treasures I admittedly missed while Googling “ketchup commercial anticipation.” (Sorry, Chuck.) Still, I was surprised by how much he had to look forward to—how full his list was.
I’m not sure I greet the act of writing the Sunday Sip with the same warm anticipation—if we’re being honest, it usually comes with a racing heart and sweaty palms. But in a funny, unexpected way, Substack has become its own little source of anticipation and joy.
Each morning, opening Substack feels a bit like finding that red Netflix envelope in the mailbox. I’ve carefully picked these voices, these creators, and now they send tiny sparks of inspiration straight to me. A curated kind of magic.
Here are a few of my favorites:
There are more—so many more. And I won’t list them all here, because I don’t want to lose you to Google.
But I will say this: anticipation isn’t gone. It’s just hiding in new places. A flash of red in the mailbox. A memory sparked by a song. A conversation at a Creative Mornings event that makes you feel a little more alive.
And if you’ve made it this far, thank you for being one of the things I look forward to.
Now, don’t leave me hanging - what do you anticipate?
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Life In Michigan Updates
The latest Life Michigan Podcast episode is out!
Murder, Mystery, and Michigan: Ed McKenna and The Grand Secret
In this episode of Life In Michigan, we sit down with Ed McKenna, author of The Grand Secret, a thrilling murder mystery set against the backdrop of Michigan’s most iconic locations — including the legendary Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Ed shares the inspiration behind his story, his long journey to publishing, and why he feels Michigan itself is one…
If you have an idea for a guest, email me (info@lifeinmichigan.com). We are looking for anyone who is creative, passionate, and has a story to share about their Life In Michigan. Don’t be shy.
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If you are a Sunday Sip regular, you know Chuck loves curating an events listing. We’ve created a public Google Events Calendar so you’ll never miss an event. Get over there and subscribe!
You’ll find things like this on the calendar!
Digging In the Archives
I found this newsletter from last year about this time. It still resonates!
Sunday Sip🦋
Hello, dear readers! Can you believe it’s already July? Every year, I bounce along through May and June, thinking, isn’t the weather lovely here in Michigan?
I'm currently anticipating our first camping adventure in Harold (our subaru outback) over the 4th of July weekend in Caseville, MI :)
Ack! So bummed I missed CM with you two!! And loved this take, Brenda… the dark side of abundance, and yet, surprise abides. We just have to turn over our own rocks.