Graduations, weddings, birthdays, new babies, everyone has their list of special moments they have given up in the last few months. And then there’s the moments we don’t even know we missed: that special sunset on the beach, the crazy dinner with friends at the Mexican place across town, the quiet conversation with a friend you ran into at the corner coffee shop. Our lives can feel so constrained right now, if we buy into that feeling.
While they weren’t the moments I’d planned to have, I’ve had some great moments in the last two months.
In staying in one place for weeks, I’m seeing time pass in the leaves of the trees, the blooms of the flowers, the flights of the birds heading north after the winter. I enjoy the fresh blooms as they surprise me on my daily walks. I mourn the pink orchids, fresh a few days ago, petals now fallen to the ground. The brilliant yellow day lily from last Saturday is nothing but a pale husk now.
Some moments keep me in touch my with vagabond life. The sky is a bit lighter a bit earlier every morning. The sun sets a few minutes later every day, giving more time for post-dinner walks before darkness falls. The moon, so bright as it shone high above a few weeks ago, is but a sliver of itself in the western sky. Orion has spun out of my reach now, and Venus has fallen too far for me to spot it before I turn in for the night. I’m going to have to start learning the Spring sky now.
I’m learning, as one reader said, to live in the moment. I appreciate what’s in front of me right now, instead of what was supposed to be there in my formerly grand plans. In another reality, I’d be meeting friends at Edisto Beach this week, enjoying the waves and having happy hours full of good wine and even better stories. In reality, I am writing these words with an ear cocked towards a bird madly tweeting in the magnolia tree across the yard.
Way up high in that tree, I can see two beautiful blooms peeking out from the brown leaves. We thought the tree might become a casualty of the dry winter we’ve had, but we were wrong. That tree is having its moment, despite the drought. Once again, I’m learning from the trees. Thanks, Magnolia. Bloom on.
We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends and living our lives.
I took Katie-girl to the park, about a mile away, a couple days ago. Hadn’t been there in a very long time. Turns out someone planted bunches of daffodils along the road into the park…just beautiful! I never would have seen that without Katie whining to do SOMETHING FUN mama! Lots of things to notice right here at home. Still..the wanderlust is pulling at me.