A Labor (Day) of Love

I have the greatest husband and father to my children. He takes the brunt of the wild child attacks. He risks serious injury child tossing (not a mommy-approved game) and this weekend (like many before), he spent hours upon hours in the waters of Lake Erie being the anchor and life saver on a huge island raft with our three children.

As I sat on an Adirondack chair, taking in the fresh air, listening to the waves and thanking the good Lord it wasn't me on the raft, I felt a little left out. It was my fault. I have a slight phobia of the water, especially lake water or big water.

It makes me nervous.

It feels dirty to me (I am not a germaphobe). It's sandy and seaweedy and the bottom feels weird.

There are creatures in there I can't see.

I'm a wimp.

I did go out on it the first day, gameface and all. My husband dragged us waaaay out. It wasn't deep but it still made me very uncomfortable. It sounds weird. I felt like I couldn't just go in if i wanted to without a long trek through God knows what.

I fell in once and made a forced laughing and panicky scramble back on. That was the moment my husband realized how I really felt about it. He doesn't get it but he was sweet about it.

I've always had fears of water. I can swim. I don't like anyone attacking me in the water. Some people do like it. I've seen it....from the shore because I scramble out of the water as fast as I can when the shananagins begin.

Most of the time, I watched from the shore and waited for the warm towel signal. That's an important job. I am the end of the party hero, right?

So the last full day of our trip was chilly. Not cold. I still had a jacket on and light sweatpants. The kids ran around half naked. After dinner, the kids begged my husband to take them out one more time. He agreed. He's the hero. I'm the towel girl. Phhfft.

He grabbed the kids and the raft, took a deep breath as he began the final trek into the sea of frolicking chilly fun whilst I grabbed my book, A Place of Yes by Bethenny Frankel, which I am purposefully reading sooo slowly because I like it so much and I don't want to finish it. I plopped down on my plastic orange Adirondack chair (which is the smartest kind of chair- you don't have to paint it) and chose to read and watch the fun. With giggles and laughter they headed out to the deep (not so deep).

I began to read about Bethenny's motherhood experiences and advice, most of which I know but sometimes need to be reminded.  As if she were sitting in the chair next to me, she told me that we need to be present in our kids lives. Have fun with them. They know when we aren't paying attention or aren't interested.

I looked around as if someone was watching what I was doing. I looked out at the water. It looked cold. I was so warm. It looked seaweedy and dirty. I was clean.  It looked like they didn't care if I was out there. They probably do care.

I hummed and hawed about how much I didn't want to go in. They wouldn't take notice. I should go in. For them. They want me to go in. But I don't like it. But they do. They would laugh and love it if I did. Go in. Go in! GO IN!

I slipped out of the chair, ran up to the house, tried to change my mind before I changed my clothes. I covered up my suit to surprise them....or so I could change my mind. I ran down. Then I turned around and ran back up because I forgot my water shoes. Ucky-muck on the bottom (its actually really sandy and nice).

I ran down, disrobed and ran for my life into the water like Bethenny was chasing me in. In a "place of yes". Yes, yes....cold water, no, no....YES!  Would Bethenny go in? I'd make her.

There was laughing and screaming as I ran in toward them. "Mama is coming! Yaay!" They were happy I was coming. I knew they would be. We all laughed and splashed and had a great time. They all thanked me for coming out.

I saw the flip side of not wanting to do something because I'd be uncomfortable.  I saw joy and memories. It was worth fifteen minutes of cold and discomfort (thank God Matthew got cold and needed mama to take him in). I sucked it up. Houseys don't wimp out.

A Mirage, A Memory

Olympic Mountain Range

  

Today as I spent many a moment reflecting on my day while driving,

I found myself at the peak of a path toward home.

There I saw a majestic sight which always takes my breath away.

There, beyond the shoreline, across the Sound, 

       lay the mountains they call Olympics.

I saw the road which leads to the tree tops and points toward one

             of the prouds of the Pacific North West.

Mount Rainier playing peek-a-boo.

I scanned the horizon in hopes to catch a glimpse of the grandest

            of grand mountains.

Grand Rainier plays hide and seek today, as it is one of its favorite sports.

My eyes return to the breathtaking view ahead.

Olympic Mountain Range

The powder-blue sky embraces the white peaks which flow into the pale blue water.

The pale-blue pours over blending into the distant blue-grey shoreline.

Which is framed by the green tips of the pines. 

You could swear the tree tops had a drip of blue on them as though

           they had been the paintbrushes that shaded the horizon. 

As I descend down the asphalt way. 

The panorama of picturesque beauty dips below the skyline and soon 

           reappears as I soar anxiously toward the untouchable. 

This sight is but a vision, an illusion which makes my soul smile. 

It is the shades and shapes which make up the view I see. 

I have been to this place and I have captured its image like photographs in an album.

It appears in many forms and conjures many feelings. 

Today, I drove toward those mountains and reflected on my memories.  

Today I traveled far. 

Ok, not camping but close
enough. They were nasty.
Took Nyquil to sleep.

Now let me tell you about this piece. My sister lived in Seattle for many years and I would go and visit her. I love the Pacific Northwest (minus the rain and slugs) It is one of the most breathtaking places I've been. When Mount Rainier decides to show itself, it is almost spiritual. August is the best time to visit Seattle. I have been on Mount Rainier and I have camped on Mt. St. Helen. Eesh. I have climbed through the lava tubes and tree roots that the lava burned out. That is a must if you visit the West.

These are the lava tubes. They
are tree root systems burned out
by the lava. You can crawl all
the way through them. So cool.

With all of my trips out there, I have captured photos in my mind that I carry with me always. One day while i was driving home down a road I've driven thousands of times, I noticed something spectacular. My mind played tricks on me. As I reached the top of a hill on the road, I could see over the tree tops. There in front of me were cloud formations that miraged views of the Pacific Northwest. It was just as I described. The clouds formed mountain peaks and formed shorelines.  It was truly amazing. I could have sat there and imagined for hours that I was there. I came home and wrote about it.

I have always seen things slightly different than others. I see things within things. That is why I like photography. I have even photographed a book series for children that would even make you see things differently. I should actually make an e-book out of it. It would be great for that.

So the next time you are driving or walking or riding or whatever you are doing, take a closer look at what is around you. YOu might see something in a little different way...a new perspective.



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