I’m coming upstairs this morning from the laundry room when I hear a wee voice.
“These are my pets.” I didn’t hear them come in. But Abby’s in the kitchen with Lillee. She’s wearing a Hello Kitty shorts outfit with a purple shrug, sweet new shoes (“they’re flip-flops!”) and some orange sunglasses.
“Nama!” Arms wide open.
“Lillee!” Arms wide open.
“Grace is sleeping Lil. You want to surprise her and wake her up?”
“Yes! Grace, GRACE!” Lil shakes her, whacks her on the arm, then shrug-stomps away. “She won’t wake up.”
“Look. Try again. I think she’s funnin’ you. I think I saw her open her eyes.”
“I’m up,” says Grace.
“No you’re not, Sissy. Your feet aren’t on the floor!”
Then there’s giggling and tickling.
The phone rings. It’s my dad. And he doesn’t realize it’s his granddaughter and not me he’s talking to until she’s done, and I tell him, and he laughs long and loud.
“Come up,” he says. “Be here by noon.”
“That’s only two-and-a-half hours. How fast do you want me to drive?”
“Well, just drive to the airport and grab a helicopter. He can land in my backyard.”
“Well, just send a helicopter, and he can land in my backyard.”
I don’t remind him that I’ll be up later today to go to the air show and celebrate Father’s Day.
Then we hang up, and they leave.
And all is still. Silent.
The bell rope sways soft, the awning ruffles, the tree branches waltz in the breeze.
Listen as time peels away.
There’s the refrigerator’s hum. The call of a redwing and the coo of a dove. A car whooshes by, and a small plane growls overhead.
Shhh. I think I hear a whisper.
Listen to the sounds of life.
Still listening,
Sandy
With Lisa Jo and community
“Listen to the sounds of life”- love that!
What beautiful observations! I love the thought of listening to the sounds of life…they really are all around us and I miss them so often. Thanks for this reminder this afternoon.
We miss so much of life by not paying attention to its ordinariness. My morning sounds include a rainy patter on the skylight, and, yes, my refrigerator is humming at the moment, too. Outside my window raindrops fracture reflections on the deck and I’m tempted to complain about the rain until I remember how much the thirsty garden is enjoying it. Thank you for sharing your sounds of life and reminding me to listen for mine.
Dear Sandra
I have learned a new saying from your daughter; every time my children or husband tell me that they are up when I am hurrying them along, I will ask if their feet are touching the floor or not!!! I miss my late father so much while reading all the girls’ plans for Father’s Day. But I will spoil hubby rotten.
Much love XX
Mia
Great post, Sandra – our lives are shaped by what sounds we bring to the surface, and which we let submerge, which ones we need to tune in and which ones we should tune out (if not off).
Thanks for listening 🙂
I felt as if I were there with you all 🙂
Especially loved the awning ruffling…
Loved how you wove the kiddos conversation into your post. How the post built to a crescendo and then all became silent except for the life outside. Great!
Janis