Wasn't it yesterday
that I was on my face
in fear
that I had failed…
diapers
expectations
divorce papers
new school
new church
new friends
new job
old job
kids in high school
college
dozens of things
left in the yard
late nights waiting
hellos
Zoo days
good byes
I love yous
giggling around the table
working out the shower schedule
tears
joys
Christmases
snow
impromptu mud pits
forts
dinner al fresco (on the front porch)
friends asleep on the porch
just waiting
painting
sidewalk chalk
chilly sprinklers
grazing the garden
Martha B, Rainy & Mike, Jami
Easter mornings
What I'd do
to have them tumbling back in the yard
the scooters
bikes
big yellow pedal car
Legos underfoot
bagel making stuff soaking in the sink
Kenan's football games in the sun
birthday football camps
Madi's secret reading nook
fighting over who takes the compost out
Max, the wonderdog
the Isotopes
Liz coming by with a wagon
friendship bread
One Sociologist for Life
arms spilling with books
and more books
watercolor paints in the carpet
glow in the dark orange something in Mama's crocheted throw
Auntie Mi
Uncle Moe and ice skating
Officers Franklin & London keeping an eye out for you
Christmas lights
Meeting the Savages at the park
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
midnight Sonic runs
pre-dawn meteor showers
and eclipse parties-dancing in the freeze to keep warm
Madi's illustration station & checkerboard ceiling
a Thanksgiving in a tiny cabin
and a birthday around Betty's beautiful table
hands held
sticky
small
bear-paw hands
What I'd give for the bikes to reappear in the yard,
to curl up on the couch and watch Little Miss Sunshine
to play Monopoly with the Queens
or share frosty beverages with my favorite Auntie & queen
bike rides with Jo
Swims with Rhonda
Running with the aMayeses at the ranch
Bible studies with everyone wrapped up in blankets because we kept the house so cold
What I'd give for one more chance
to be present
in those moments
to not worry about the exact placement
of lights on the tree
perfection
time
It goes so swiftly
fleeting
fast.
Time- that is.
And just like the hills we run up and down in Georgia
Time does not flatten
or alter its pace
just because we slow down
and finally appreciate it.
What I'd give for those bikes
those tiny hands
those sliding, high-kicking
dance parties.
We were so rich.
We will be wealthy in those things again.
(I love you, Kids, and friends who are family and family who are friends.)
Thank you.
Watch Our Town, by Thornton Wilder. Watch the original one if you can – streamed here: http://archive.org/details/Our_Town.
And then unplug yourself and go live well. There is still time.
hmm.
yes…
ok.
It goes by quickly. It’s great to live in such a way that one has treasures in the form of memories.
Love to read your blog, so glad mother found it 🙂
Are those pictures of Kenan and Madi?