I love days like this. There aren’t enough of them for me right now
and I’m really excited. I’m still in bed after sleeping in and you know
what lies before me? A whole day of nothing. Nothing! Like a big
ball of bliss to kick around, there are no plans, no demands, just a
whole lot of nothing. It’s like the best present ever. Like being
handed a very special bouquet.
So much for us has to be tightly scheduled. My kids can never seem
to understand why my husband and I insist on getting things done at
particular times, but we keep pointing to the clock and saying, “We only
have an hour before we have to clear the table for dinner so you need
to finish your homework now so we can get out of here in time for
(insert violin or choir or swim lessons or a concert here).” There is a
lot to squeeze into an average day and we spend a lot of time badgering
the kids into using the bathroom and putting on coats or hanging coats
up or just getting a move on.
In terms of my job, Saturdays wipe me out. I’m at the violin store
alone and it’s our busiest day. I’ve had as many as a dozen people at
once in my little shop for hours at a time, and it’s exhausting keeping
everything straight. There are people exchanging rental violins and
looking at instruments and bringing in bows to be rehaired. Some
Saturdays I don’t get to sit down at my bench to do repair work until
well into the afternoon when there is finally a lull in the foot
traffic. By the time I get home I’m usually pretty dazed, and yesterday
was no exception.
But today? There is nothing on my plate. (Except, possibly, waffles
to eat that I hear Ian making downstairs.) No school events, no book
club, no concerts, no errands that must be done today, no Army related
anything, no play dates, no travel, no visitors, no appointments.
I asked Quinn a couple of days ago when I was looking at the calendar
and saw a big hole of nothing sitting on today what he wanted to do
with it. I told him I could take him to the zoo or the children’s
museum or anywhere he liked. He cuddled closer on my lap and said,
“Nowhere.” That surprised me a little, so I said, “Really, where is the
one place you most want to go and I will take you there on Sunday” and
he said, “Home. I love being home.” Can’t argue with that. Home is my
favorite place in the world, too.
And the bonus is that today is supposed to be warm. Like, very
warm. Like, out of the 40’s and into the 70’s, just for today, and then
it goes back to feeling like spring in Milwaukee again tomorrow.
People who live where it’s warm all the time don’t appreciate it in the
same way. Here, the moment the sun comes out and you can tolerate the
air outside without a jacket, everyone goes outside. People take it in
and enjoy it for all it’s worth. I lived in Mexico one summer in
college, and every day was gorgeous, and it stopped registering after
awhile. No one ever said, “It’s beautiful out! We must do something
with it!” because it would be beautiful the next day too, and no one was
interested. When it’s beautiful here it almost seems like a crime not
to get out and enjoy it, and no one takes it for granted.
I think I’m going to spend the morning working in our yard. There
are a lot of plants peeking up and too many dead leaves and sticks
blocking their way. We had an impressive hail storm last week that
knocked a million tiny sticks all over our yard that need to be raked as
well. Being outside and neatening things up sounds great to me.
Normally there isn’t time. There is talk of going out for a sundae at
Leon’s Frozen Custard at some point. We might grill something for
dinner, which when we say that to the kids means they hear the word
s’mores. We might walk to Target for something. We might not.
My life goes back into full tilt crazy tomorrow with getting the kids
off to school, exercising, work, rushing home for dinner and then a
rehearsal until 9:00, but today? Ha! If I do anything today it’s
because I want to. There’s not another hole like that on my calendar
for a long, long, time.
Here’s wishing all of you nothing! (And I mean that in the best possible way!)
UPDATE: I’m sore from all the nothing I did today. Got the whole
yard raked (seven big bags worth), and that was really satisfying. Of
the kids, only Aden took real advantage of the weather by biking, making
kites, pushing a neighbor’s baby in a stroller around the block, and
all manner of general play. Mona spent a few minutes on her scooter and
the swing, but then retreated inside to make things out of paper and
play on the computer. Quinn, who has worn nothing but short sleeves and
flip flops all winter, was decked out in a long sleeved turtleneck,
heavy pants and socks. He collected pine cones while I raked and then
went back inside to draw. They did all come outside to enjoy the latest
bubble machine I picked up on a quick trip to Target today (I have a
thing for bubble makers and this one was on sale!) and we grilled
burgers and ate on the deck. The day ended with s’mores and much needed
baths. Life is damn good sometimes.
No comments:
Post a Comment