Monday, March 13, 2006

Gathering up the Moments

Having experienced our house being hit by three hurricanes over the last couple of years, some things have become very clear to me. Life can throw you a hell of a hit at any time. Things you thought that you couldn’t live without become things you can. Life can get so turned upside-down that not much looks familiar. Repairs surely don’t happen overnight. Repairs happen over months and more months. During that time you sort of bob along with the ebb and flow on a true sea of change and confusion.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. Pop was working in the yard. He was weeding the flower beds and adding new mulch to the areas. Murphy was sleeping soundly in his little bed. Fred the Cat was doing the same thing in his own bed. The sun was shining and I’m telling you our house was at peace.

I walked from room to room recalling the way things looked after Frances and Jean whacked us. What a difference from then to now. Each room has its own new do and those rooms also seemed to be sleeping restfully. From the kitchen window I could see Mr. Pop intently fighting his war against weedy little evil doers. He seemed to be winning and he appeared to be enjoying what he was doing.

I realized that that moment must be swept up in its entirety and placed softly and deeply inside my heart. The entire house and all of us who call it home were experiencing a very nice time. I have learned that I must never let those times go by unnoticed. I must jump whole heartedly into them and enjoy them. Those sweet little moments and memories have become my life’s true treasures. Moments that others might view as dull and unexciting, I see as some of the most wonderful times of all.

21 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh PoP,
what a beautiful sentiment! Those of us who like to bitch and moan about whatever's happening around the world and in our government, need to have moments like you wrote about. We need to see that afterall...life is good...and we are waaaaaaay lucky to be living in the USA. Life is short....ENJOY!!

March 13, 2006 6:09 AM  
Blogger Yukkione said...

Yes, dont we really cherish these peacful moments. Although in this house having a 17month old, and a 5 and 7 year old makes those moments rare. As a fellow floridian I can relate to your hurricane anxiety, we actually whent to a shelter for one. this season is supposed to be quite active as well. Fingers are crossed.

March 13, 2006 7:08 AM  
Blogger Pogo said...

PoP,
You got that right. There aren't enough of those "house at peace" moments for my liking. Gotta agree with left - with a 9 year old maniac and a 6 volt dog witha 12 volt battery, things at our house are seldom very quiet. At least all we get from the 'canes is a little rain & wind, and that's rare.

Been AWOL for a few days. Gonna be real busy for the next 6 weeks or so, but I'll check in when I can.

March 13, 2006 8:53 AM  
Blogger poopie said...

How very true. Thanks for sharing them with us!

March 13, 2006 10:43 AM  
Blogger Agi said...

I dig the name of your blog. Reminds me of the Lucille Bluth character from Arrested Development.

March 13, 2006 11:04 AM  
Blogger eProf2 said...

Your very pleasant blog this morning reminded me of the phrase, "take time to smell the roses along the way." You're right, we don't spend enough time living in the moment -- and enjoying it for what it's worth. My blood pressure just went down twenty points. Thanks.

March 13, 2006 11:40 AM  
Blogger Mark Prime (tpm/Confession Zero) said...

Yes. remember the joy! Well written. Thanks for sharing.

March 13, 2006 12:05 PM  
Blogger Kathleen Callon said...

Ahhh, those are the moments that make life worth living. Had a similar weekend here. We all played in snow, had hot chocolate, and snuggled on the couch by the woodstove... hope all is well.

March 13, 2006 12:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

PoP...I know your bliss. The frogette and I were latecomers to the home ownership game. But now that we have our own little pad, our level of contentment has risen considerably. She basks in the security of our own space, and I get positively giddy writing out mortgage checks.

Go figure...

March 13, 2006 12:26 PM  
Blogger pissed off patricia said...

Congratulations kvatch, on whenever you got your very own place. It is nice to be "at home", isn't it? At least the mortgage check is buying something for you and frogette to keep for your very own. :)

March 13, 2006 12:40 PM  
Blogger Durward Discussion said...

Pop, I've been a very happy woman ever since I learned that if something is upsetting me to ask "Will I care about this a year from now"? 999 times out of a thousand the answer is, I won't ever remember this a year from now.

OTOH, the sweet, gentle, happy moments are the ones to store away in your happiness bank to tide you over the one in a thousand bad times.

Here's hoping your bank is never overdrawn.

March 13, 2006 1:25 PM  
Blogger Mr. 618 said...

I'll second (or eighth, or whatever number we're up to) the sentiments above those all-too-rare monents of peace and quiet.

And now, I shall go back to trying to get a song out of my head, "Friendly Neighborhood Narco Agent", which contains the classic line about rolling a joint as big as Baltimore.

March 13, 2006 5:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have learned that I must never let those times go by unnoticed. I must jump whole heartedly into them and enjoy them.

POP,

That's the prayer of the Psalmist:

So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.
- Psalm 90:12 (Amplified Bible)


It's right, too.

- oddjob

March 13, 2006 5:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am buying my third house this summer if all goes well in five years, and I think i just want stability and 'roots'. Hurricane season must be scary, we mostly get snow. Thats about it as far as treachery!!!

March 13, 2006 5:56 PM  
Blogger Peacechick Mary said...

I just read that we can expect a busy hurricane season again. Oy! My biggest concern are the pets. I refuse to leave without them and the other question is, Where CAN we go? From the last year, their tracks were so unpredictable. I loved your post about the sweet serenity. Maybe having the upset and turmoil heightens the lovliness of it all. Take care.

March 13, 2006 6:55 PM  
Blogger sumo said...

Thanks to the Bush Administration we don't get too many of those cherished moments to hang onto. Because everyday we are bombarded with the insane it's hard to take oneself out of the moment...but thanks to you it is possible.

March 13, 2006 11:55 PM  
Blogger Neil Shakespeare said...

Indeed they are.

March 14, 2006 3:26 AM  
Blogger Rook said...

It reminds me of the book "Wherever You Go There You Are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Despite all that is wrong with the world, there is also that which is right. We sometimes can get caught up in the fight, and forget about the furlough. I know I am guilty of doing just that.

Thanks for reminding me about the moment.

March 14, 2006 5:28 AM  
Blogger SB Gypsy said...

Smelling the roses just as important as sniffing for the dead fish - and gives us the inspiration and motivation to go on sniffin'.

March 14, 2006 7:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bless You POP...

Oh and, your new Blog is Brilliant, wish I'd thought of that name...lol...

Shine On...

March 14, 2006 12:03 PM  
Blogger Auntie Roo said...

Nice piece PoP. Those moments when you are actually fully present in life are so sweet.

Thanks for sharing your peace & contentment.

March 15, 2006 12:48 AM  

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