listening

"I'm here to be me, which is taking a great deal longer than I had hoped."

— Anne Lamott 

The three of them come for dinner. We make burgers and eat outside. It has been awhile, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like myself. I can feel the shift of the seasons deep within my bones, along with a bit of calm. I walk the yard with my camera most days, and I pull it out and do my best to capture the love between my son and his son. I slow down, asking myself over and over, how do you want to spend this moment? The answers rise, if I just clear a pathway to listen.

easy going

"Do the best you can, and don't take life too serious."

— Will Rogers

I have an early morning appointment with my physical therapist today. She is easy to talk to and we laugh and make jokes between me counting to 30, and her deciding what to make me do next. We are both pleased with my progress and talk about how a few more sessions should do it. I come out an hour later feeling alive and happy. I think about this on my way home and decide to try not to take life so serious. I wonder if she understands how her easy-going personality is a bonus to her patients.

***

day 11

Only spread a fern-frond over a man's head and worldly cares are cast out, and freedom and beauty and peace come in.

~ John Muir

The day is full with the four year old in the house. He plays non-stop and by the time he leaves I am so full of joy that the let down of walking back into my day to day life is a bit daunting. I find this fern in the early evening light and do my best hold on to some of that joy.

***

tuesday

A reminder to plant an entire bed of zinnias next year.