Floury Hands

Standing in my kitchen today I had one of those moments that make me stop and take stock.

School started back this week with each of the children arriving home at different times. Thursday is one of our ‘free’ evenings when we have no training sessions or matches to attend. As the last child arrived home, one of the younger children automatically reached out for the large baking bowl. As the day’s stories tumbled out, another child selected the correct weights for the mixer while the 3^rd began gathering the ingredients.

When the day’s stories were complete the conversation moved to upcoming events. Consideration was given to Halloween costumes and how many spiders’ webs it will take to decorate the garden. They are already looking forward to calling on scary neighbours and filling their bellies with treats until they creak. As October blew into November and December, their thoughts turned to Christmas and the search for deer on Christmas Eve before returning home to place stockings at the end of the bed. In a blink we’d moved from Valentines Day and were wondering how best to decorate the kitchen for April Fools Day. I’m not sure who that joke is on! Before long I could feel the heat of summer returning as trays of steaming buns were lifted carefully from the oven to cool.

As I sampled the fruits of the afternoon I thought of the journey that took us to this point. I remembered the rush to the emergency ward of our local hospital after one child dared the other to swallow a coin. I felt the warmth of the force of the hugs following a row, the pride of the first medal won, the look of glee when the first tooth fell out, the spotty bodies covered in chickenpox and the shiny, sleepy faces as Christmas stockings lay expectantly at the end of beds.

I’ve soared dizzy heights as I celebrated their successes and wanted to wrap them in cotton wool as I salved their woes. I struggled through some days following sleepless nights as they slept in my arms after a nightmare. I applaud their first steps of independence. I often catch my breath as I see them take giant steps and fail on occasions, but I breathe evenly as once again they fly.

As I looked back to the kitchen table I found myself already looking forward to the next day, when three pairs of different sized hands will once again be covered in flour.

The Ideal Pet

Having resisted numerous requests for a family pet, I finally relented. My middle child and I spent a glorious afternoon making a new house with soft bedding for the newest member of our family. Once this was complete we began our search. Much consideration was given to size and colour and whether we thought he would be happy in his newly constructed home. Finally, a perfect specimen was selected and carefully carried to his bed. The name Jackie was chosen and all were happy. Junior spent many days lying on his belly, talking to his new pet. He was also very happy to welcome any of Jackie’s family for an extended visit. Jackie has been an ideal pet. He doesn’t have expensive eating habits and does not need looking after during family holidays. In fact, I can’t think of another creature that would measure up to our snail!

What is old?

Arriving late to meet friends recently, I advised that I was delayed because I was taking my aunt to a hospital appointment. One friend asked if she was old and I confirmed that at 80, she was. Almost everyone jumped at this, insisting that 80 isn't old. It is! I hadn't said that she was a useless drain on society of anything else that would offend or insult my much loved aunt. She is many decades older than me but could still give me a run for my money on many fronts. I just said she was old. Why are people uncomfortable with this? If 80 isn't old, what is?

Is this a compliment?

As I smiled and thanked the cashier in my local supermarket this afternoon she said "your teeth are beautiful, are they your own?!"

A Quiet Night

Tight hug
Warm kiss
Heavy eyes
Soft breath
Cool sheets
Long sleep

Wide yawn
Arm stretch
Eyes peek
Head turn
Big smile
Morning

Looking for Mermaids

If you knew for sure that you had a relatively short number of years left to live what would you do?

Would you sit back for the first year or two and then cram everything you ever wanted to experience into the later months?

Would you make a list of all the things you ever thought about doing and begin working your way through them immediately?

As your time is short, would you put yourself first and expect others to indulge you or would you continue life as it is, making no changes so as not to discommode your loved ones?

For some time now I've been promising my children that I will call them long before dawn, with a warm packed picnic for breakfast and go somewhere beautiful to watch the sun rise. I've also told them we'll go looking for mermaids. I think I'll start with that.......

Incidentally I'm feeling really well and have no reason to believe I won't live to 100!

If you were to take just a few minutes to note the things you'd really like to do, what would you come up with?