Thursday, June 10, 2010

Mundane Divinities

Ever since my foggy Friday, I've been watching. Suddenly, I see so many lovely tidbits floating through my days. Their steadfast presence, maintaining their presence through my fog, even permeating my fogginess with their serendipitous bright truths.

Last week, the kids and I drove to Dunkin' Donuts. On the way, we sat in traffic. (Amazingly, I'd left enough time to allow for traffic.) As we sat, I looked out the window. A woman and an elementary school girl stood in their driveway. I guessed they were waiting for the school bus. They stood, silently, side by side. Contentment seemed to swallow them. The girl looked up at the woman, probably her grandmother. They smiled, and the grandmother nestled the girl into the cozy part of her body. The emulated peace. They inadvertently sent some to me.

Last Tuesday, I planted flowers. I reached into the damp dirt and furrowed spots for my vincas and potato vines. My finger nails caked with dirt. Joyful flowers nodding on my front porch. I unwittingly and literally grounded myself in the ground.

This morning, on the way to school, I saw another grandparent with her grandson. He was probably two. They stood, across from the school, like statues. Still. Waiting. Watching. I guessed that they were watching for school buses. Regardless, they stood. The grandmother didn't rush, hen peck or direct her grandson. She let him be. I felt as if that sage grandmother held some arcane bit of knowledge and just by observing them, she unknowingly unwrapped a bit of the secret for me.

Last night, while cocooned in tousled cotton duvets, a cacophony of damp drops serenaded us during our slumber. Quiet. Methodical. Natural rain. Wrapping the moment in its own heady, poignant paper. Defining a beginning, on the inevitable heels of a a day's end.

The divine, nestled right here, betwixt the traffic, the school bustle and a night's sleep.

6 comments:

ck said...

That was a lovely post. So peaceful.

I actually spent the morning trying to do exactly what those grandmothers were doing. Letting my kids be...and "being" right beside them. Next up, working in the garden.

Thank you for sharing such a serene picture.

One Photo said...

I agree, a lovely and peaceful post. I truly believe it is doing little things that make you happy, like your planting the other day.

My MIL said to me a while ago that being a grandmother is for her much more enjoyable in many ways than being a parent, because she is so much more relaxed, feeling so much less responsibility and so she just has fun. I can understand that.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes life gives us just what we need, exactly how we need it. As long as we stop to notice, it can be an amazing gift. I'm not good at it, but I'm learning and things like you describe here are bringing me peace and joy now too. So glad that you are feeling better!

The Mommyologist said...

Wow! I love how you are able to slow down and really look at things like that. I need to pay more attention to the little things myself!

anymommy said...

We just have to open our eyes and notice it. Thank you for the reminder. Lovely writing.

becca said...

I loved this post. It makes me want to do today over to see what I find between the "lines" of the day. I'll be sure to notice more tomorrow... so thank you.