Monday, March 9, 2009

Rejuvenation Station

Well, I'm sure I speak for many
when I praise that genius who
claimed today "Napping Day".

Due to the jolting spring forward
and the loss of an hour of sleep,
common sense just tells us
that a good nap should definitely
be the order of the day.

My sister Linda
gets teased a lot about her naps.
But if you ever experienced
her afternoon wrath
because she's missed one...
well.... let's just say
it's not a happy time. :)

I am guilty of the same indulgence myself.

I have even tried to convince my husband
and the critical outside world
that a nap is merely
a rejuvenation period.
A space of time between morning and night
where the mind and body shut down
to replenish and repair the spirit.

My favorite place to nap-
(I mean- rejuvenate)-
is the couch.

Always armed with a soft pillow and
a light blanket-
and having easy access to the
remote control and the telephone-
I experience everything from
a short cat nap
to a two hour dream marathon.

My husband's method's
are quite different.
He usually naps sitting up
in his recliner
with a beer in one hand,
the TV blaring,
and with rhythmic bobs
of the head and chin-
with an occasional snort/snore.

Some nap aficionado once stated
that a person does not "take a nap"-
(for that subtly implies that it
was stolen or snatched secretively)-
but that the preferred verb is
to "have a nap".
Just as innocently and freely
as having an coffee break.

There are even books available
that explain the art of napping.

But, you know-
(Yaaawwwnn....)
I do quite well
without them.

Friday, March 6, 2009

My Life In a Flash

"Waaaaahh!"

"Da-Da!"

"I love you, Mommy."

"Santa's been here!"

"I've got new friends."

"I like my teachers."

"Algebra is hard."

"Passed my drivers test!"

"I'm going to Prom."

"Graduation night!"

"He's cute."

"He said I was cute."

"I love you."

"Stay over."

"Let's get married."

"Marriage is wonderful."

"Marriage sucks!"

"Marriage is wonderful."

"Marriage sucks."

"Marriage is really good."

"We've mellowed out."

"I love you more."

"You're what?"

"It's a girl!"

"I love you, Mommy."

"Oh, it's another girl!"

"Da-Da!"

"We're having a boy!"

"Waaahhhhh!"

Santa came.

Best friends.

Algebra.

Driver's license.

Prom.

Graduation.

"You're what?"

"Goo-goo."

Grandma and Grandpa.

"I love you, Nana."

"Are the kid's coming by?"

"Sure is quiet here."

"Goodnight, honey."

"I love you, too."

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Past Perfect

I miss:

Camp outs at the river
where we hauled everything
but the bathroom sink
to only stay two nights...
...Where we lived on hot dogs
and beer and s'mores...
...I miss the smell of the tent,
the coolness of the water,
the pulsating heat of midday
and the rhythmic tick of
insects at night...
...of sweet laughter
and good stories and silence
that spoke to my heart...

I miss:

Holding a baby in my arms,
the soft pink skin all fragrant with lotion,
...the plump fingers rolled around
strands of my hair...
those innocent eyes smiling
as I sing lullabies
in my best nursery-rhyme voice...
... of feeling useful
and hopeful
and satisfied that I accomplished
one of life's miracles...

I miss:

Fresh tomatoes from the garden...
inner tubes in shallow water...
suntans and lemonade...
cool shoes...
full cookie jars...
picnic baskets...
catching fireflies...
swing sets and slicky-slides...
board games...
ball games...
breakfast in bed...
pizza at midnight...
gathering eggs from the chicken house...
a flat belly
and a firm butt...
rock and roll...
violins...
troll dolls and
Silly Putty...
wishing on stars
and chicken bones...
new notebooks...
old pencils...
great coffee...
warm muffins...
church songs
and cardboard fans...
hunting four leaf clovers...

Some of the things I miss can be mine again.
I just have to look for them-
create them-
put them back within my reach.

But I will always miss what time has taken away.
People I loved,
things I treasured,
moments I'll never revive.

But
today is a new day-
a new month-
a new season-
a new year.
A new me.

Thanks, God.