Saturday – 7:00AM: I’m not the best at sitting still. Motion relaxes me. My seat of choice would be a long-chained swing rather than a shaded park bench, and I relish running or walking a beach to sitting in its soft sand. So which came first? A frenetic occasionally crazy life or the preference for non-static activities? Did I adapt or attract?
One of those pointless ponderings that will probably never show up with full punctuation. But I’m thinking about it anyway this morning as I tiptoe around slumbering teens, compelled to pause my day’s start until all are awake and fed. As a little girl, I remember the frustration of being the only one up on many a Saturday morning. Politeness (and Family Law) dictated that I allow my sisters (and in-house playmates) to sleep. Impatience, however, prodded me to repeatedly flush the toilet in the attached bathroom until one of them awoke to start the new day with me. I didn’t want to miss a minute. Bedtime was set; the only wiggle room on extending the day came in the morning.
In the spirit of sociability, I’ve learned to moderate my Energizer Bunny syndrome. I’ve learned to live with a few untraveled trails, roads and streams. And, sometimes the “Bunny” does wear down and need a recharge (She’s on the wise and witty side of 40 after all)… But the restorative powers of motion -of drawing in oxygen and elevating the heart rate, of interacting with one’s environment in a meaningful way – they seem essential. They grow a gratitude within me that makes even the occasional overflow of life a little sweeter.
Sorry I haven’t visited in a while! It has been too long.
Your posts are always enjoyable, so I don’t ever think your “ponderings” are pointless. Actually it got me thinking about how I prefer a hammock to a beach chair. In general though, I like just sitting in nature sometimes and taking in everything around me.
Take care,
Devin
Flusing the toilet to wake ‘em…naughty girl!
Lovely post! You flusher, you!–lol Warmly, Barbara
Devin: ~Good to hear from you! A hammock would definitely be better than a beach chair. I like the way you think.
Jean-Luc: I know (blush)!
Thanks, Barbara. I took a rather passive-aggressive route around the family rules on that one…
Heather this is a terrific post, I can picture a little girl impatient for conversation and activity, sneaking into the toilet with an alternative objective in mind. What’s worse is that you had to flush it numerous times for the plan to work. .
What great musings. It takes me back to similar days in our house where at times I wanted to be up and at it (with company) and at other times to stay in bed and refuse the attempts of younger siblings to start the day. Beautifully written.
Cate: You’ve got the picture perfectly! When you’ve read all your books, what’s a girl to do?!
Mark H: Family dynamics are an interesting energy. I’m the eldest of four girls. I’ve come to view those long ago Saturday mornings as “team building” time that has subsequently carried us through some significant challenges. Thank goodness for cell phones, and that we don’t have to flush toilets to get one another’s attention at odd hours, anymore!
Really nice post,thank you
Do you folks have a fb fan page? I appeared for one on twitter but couldn’t discover one, I would love to develop into a fan!