One Day

In which a lot happens in a very short period.

I’ve been thinking a lot about days lately- how they emerge like stalks of wheat, one after the other, smiling at the sun and waving at the wind. One stalk by does not reval much- thousands of stalks reveal stories and adventures for decades. One day, while glorious in its simplicity, does not reveal much, either- but thousands of days create stories that seep into the ground like rain.

One day you’re a child freshly born, and another you’re walking into kindergarten to meet new friends and start a new adventure. One day you’re trying to meet the boy next to you in history class, and another you’re marrying him. One day you’re a father walking your son to the bus stop, and another you’re putting him on a plane to a city halfway around the world where he now lives.

We don’t often think about the importance of time, and patience, and sticking with things. We are conditioned to chase after the immediate, the in the moment, the dealing with what is right in front of us and we can’t even imagine what may lie in front of us a month or two years down the road.

Elias came home recently from Amsterdam and spent a week with us here. Eden came home as well and our family took time for a short vacation together. I was thrilled to see Elias. He is my confidant, my friend, my companion. We talk about anything and everything and all sorts of things. He cooks fabulous dinners and plays a great game of Scrabble. For the first time in many months our family was together. however briefly, for ten days. We had fabulous conversations, wonderful walks, and were happy just to be together.

Then….he went back to Amsterdam, Eden Blue went back to Boone, and Wendy left for a few days’ adventure with her book club and suddenly I was left alone, just me and the dog.

Rough seas.

Each moment felt like a million years. I had no appetite, was tired constantly, and grumpy beyond belief. I wept.

I like to think of myself as a great loner, someone who can handle any situation on my own- but the truth is I need my family. We all need a family.

I am lucky to have my Burn family, all the friends I have met there over the years. Nancy, Sara, Brian, Christopher, Kathy, Carlos, Christine, Jim, Mandy and Chris, and many more friends I can talk to, make fabulous dinners with, and play board games. We love and support one another, and talk about all sorts of things.

Just like any family, our time together is preciously short. Sunday we were able to be together for a few hours- we had mediterranean food, chatted about our lives, and just loved on one another. Only a few hours, but they lifted my spirits and warmed my soul.

One day you’re saying hello to someone for the first time, and another you’re sharing meals and talking smack. One day you’re asking someone about their artwork, and the next you’re making artwork together. You meet one person, then you meet their crew, then you have a whole new family.

A lot happens in a very short period.

Finally, this note. I’m doing an experiment- I’m staying off all media for a time- no reading the paper, no doom scrolling. My intent is that if I’m on the internet I need to be creating content, not consuming it. The hope is to be writing more missives, telling more stories. I expect you all to hold me to it, ok? ; ).

More to come.