During our outing today, the world stopped and faded away. I sat down on a beach, heard the waves lapping in, soaked in the sun with sun-warmed rocks beneath me, layed back and for the first time in over six months I just simply was.
Andy had Carolyn a few yards away--near enough for me to feel I was "with them" and far enough away that I could claim the five feet around me on all sides as mine alone for just a moment.
I sat and heard the waves, listened to the bird songs, heard my daughters happy sounds. I closed my eyes, breathed deeply. And then the world faded away.
Growing up, I loved to go outside and wander down to the pond where I would sit on the dock for a long time until I didn't realize the water was beneath me and the sky was above me. I'd sit there until I felt a part of the water and the sky and the summer sounds. As an adult I try to do that from time to time. It's something I need. The essence of Val gets off-kilter when I don't take the time.
But it's been so very long since I've been able to. So long since I haven't needed to be an arm's length away from Carolyn because I was THE adult in charge. It's been so long since I've not had a crisis to deal with or a house to move into or a cross-country trip to travel. It's been so long since I've been content that my family is together and ok.
And today it was. Today for five minutes, I could just BE.
And that five minutes was enough.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Another Expotition
After Kenny left this morning, we headed to another state park that's new to us--the one, "Under the bridge." We took a long windy road down to the beach where Carolyn played, Andy flew a kite, and I sat and soaked in sunshine. It was a good day.
The Children's Museum
We visited a children's museum in a town not far from here this week. Carolyn had a fabulous time. She developed her musical talent with tamborines, shakers, and a xylaphone. She explored a tree house. She tried her hand at driving a big rig. And of course, observed the effects of gravity combined with PVC pipe and magnets. Overall, the outing was a hit. We'll definitely go back.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
A Day at the Beach
We're still out on as many expotitions as we can possibly get under our hats this leave period. Yesterday, we spent some time at a new beach. It had miles and miles of sand to explore and some beautiful bluffs just behind the beach. We walked for quite a way and saw all sorts of things. We found our first sand dollar. It was still brown and fuzzy. Weirded me out a bit. We also stumbled serindipitously upon an Eagle Shadowing a Heron or a Crane (I don't know my birds very well, I guess). The heron would move, and the Eagle would follow. We were able to get amazingly close to both of them. It was absolutely beautiful.
Carolyn had fun in the sand. She dug, and dug... And ate a handful or two at one point. She also pranced and danced all around the beach and did quite a little bit of exploring herself.
Carolyn had fun in the sand. She dug, and dug... And ate a handful or two at one point. She also pranced and danced all around the beach and did quite a little bit of exploring herself.
Friday, April 21, 2006
One More Tiptoe Through the Tulips
Andy has been on leave, so we thought we would go tulip-finding one more time. It's later in the season, so the tulips are ready for cutting, and just brilliant. Tulip-festival time provides marvelously cheap dates--You find a field, pay $2 to park, and walk as long as you want. This field had bright reds, deep purples, delicate pinks, and my favorite--a very subtle yellowy white.
Carolyn had lots of fun getting a view from Dad's backpack. I think she felt important. Her Mama skipping around singing, "Tulips, Tulips, Look at the beautiful tulips!" entertained her quite well too.
Carolyn had lots of fun getting a view from Dad's backpack. I think she felt important. Her Mama skipping around singing, "Tulips, Tulips, Look at the beautiful tulips!" entertained her quite well too.
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