Living and sharing and dividing and compromising and seething and sighing and smiling and loathing and waiting and hoping and pleasing and frowning and planning and hating and loving and relenting.
And we know that there will be days like today when we have little voices inside our bellies that whisper about how organized our bathroom drawers used to be and how if we wanted to watch reruns of Dr. Phil for an entire afternoon that there would not be anyone to answer to and we think about Betty Friedan and we wonder if it has all been in vain.
And then we see that photograph of you. The one that makes our heart rumble in our chest. It is that photograph that isn't particularly special in any way---the way it looks---the lighting, the setting. If a stranger saw it they would not be struck by any meaning or beauty or profundity. Except there is something about this particular photo that captures the essence of you and how you are. The way you are standing there---eager, happy and stock still---looking directly in the camera, holding The Boy's leash. The way you are looking at me, waiting for me to figure out how to work the camera. The way you would have stood there forever waiting for me---being patient and strong.
And it is this --- this seeing of the photo and the remembering --- the day, the weather, the adventure we'd been on--- that erases all the piddly lip curliness and the air gets lighter and we take in a deep breath and we gather our senses about us and we say to ourselves We wouldn't trade this life for the world and we trot ourselves downstairs just in time to get dinner started before the sun starts to go down.
Yours In Snarly Eyed Wonder,
Wanda Wiferstein
8 comments:
Oh, Wanda W., this post made my heart ache in a good way, like there really is someone out there who will make me feel that way. In the meantime, I have to say, that photo sort of made my heart rumble too. Rrrrr.
This post rocks. Really.
All goosebumpley. Hurry and copyright this before I make a mint turning it into a greeting card or maybe one of those Hallmark plaques. With really teeny print to make it all fit.
Really. You said it all. And I'm with Zadge. Good catch, Cupcake.
beautifully spoken.
Sometimes I feel like Buddy the Elf when he runs into the room and sez 'I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!'
My chest tightened up and my tear ducts got all bleary. And then I let out a big sigh. Thanks, Wanda. I needed that.
Thank you everyone. I appreciate the validation more than you know.
My first marriage was a horrible thing and it made me worry that marriages were things to avoid. Then I got asked again and I did it even though it wasn't on the top of my list of things to do and damn it if isn't the best thing I have ever done. So yes to this post, yes.
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