I spent Mother's Day weekend weeding my parents' garden while my husband Garth (not his real name) under-planted their fruit tree with two flats of impatiens and vinca. Later, after indulging myself in a bowl of mussels swimming in marinara that was beautifully infused with hints of garlic and herbs and washing it all down with a spicy Sangria, I excused myself from the table and decided to take a walk.
My children insisted I needed a chaperon and I, much to their disappointment, gently refused their proposals of Hop Scotch, Hide-and-Go-Seek, or Eye Spy, as well.
No, I needed to clear my head and put myself into a mommy-time-out.
My parents live in a retirement village surrounded by pine trees and thick woods, heavy with the scent of wild berries and honeysuckle, and there are walking trails that lead in every direction. As I started out the back door, which is really the front of the house and faces one of the trails, I couldn't help but think that my parents new home is a far cry from the urban setting my twin brother and I were raised in.
Here my parents know the names of each of their neighbors and very rarely would you find people who still feel the need to lock their doors.
I closed my eyes and imagined myself, twenty-five years younger, hurriedly walking through the streets, littered with sale flyers and broken glass, and trying to recall whether or not I had remembered to pack my house keys, or mace.
A lot has changed since then. My parents are older and, especially within the last two years, mom and dad both seem so frail. It's sad, really. They've become dependent on the kindness of friends and family and can't do the things that they love to do, anymore - like, work in their garden or take a walk.
I opened my eyes, used my sleeve to wipe the wet off my face and picked up the pace.
"Moooooomeeeeee!"
"Shhhhh, I'm here!"
"Where were you?"
"Nowhere, just here."
"Oooookay, but you didn't take your phone with you and I was worried you might get hurt, lost, or something."
"Oh...COME ON...like, what...is a 90-year-old going to jump out of a bush and gum me to death?"
"Or, wait...I know...there's been a rash of drive-by moonings, lately and..."
"Wow, would you just look at that!"
"Quick, here's your phone and take a picture, before it goes away!"
"Here...you can see it good from here, Momma!"
Aaaand, I almost missed it.
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This post is beautifully written. Glad you ended up NOT being on a mommy timeout so that you noticed that sunset - it's absolutely gorgeous. The little ones often notice things that we just don't seem to see anymore, don't they?
"after indulging myself in a bowl of mussels swimming in marinara that was beautifully infused with hints of garlic and herbs and washing it all down with a spicy Sangria"
Hmm.. that just sounds SO GOOD.
"No, I needed to clear my head and put myself into a mommy-time-out."
I can SO relate to that. The only problem: whenever I insist on a mommy time-out, I feel guilty! I seriously need to stop feeling that way.
Posted by: Vered - MomGrind | May 14, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Wow.
And: I sooo have to get you a dictionary so that you can see what the word "nearly" really means :}
Posted by: Backpacking Dad | May 14, 2008 at 02:36 PM
That's a beautiful shot. There are a great many things I'd be too busy to notice if not for my kids and I'm always greatful for that.
Posted by: SherE1 | May 14, 2008 at 04:35 PM
What a great story behind the beautiful photo!
Posted by: Tiff@Three Peas | May 14, 2008 at 06:14 PM
What a great story. Love the picture :)
Posted by: Alexis | May 16, 2008 at 08:01 AM
What a beautiful story. I'm so glad you were able to share the sunset with her. :)
Posted by: dana | May 17, 2008 at 09:56 PM