Every Chance I Get

The kitchen/dining room table sits in the room, fully extended; polished and looking good.

Six chairs sit around it, carefully situated. The folding chairs have been put away. A high chair sits off to the side.

All of this sits directly in front of the sliders that lead out to the deck. Brilliant sunshine illuminates the whole scene.

The only problem is that it is Monday morning. Everything that happened here, happened yesterday.

It is so quiet now. 

Yesterday, in this house, there were eight adults, one 2 and 1/2 year old, 1 dog, and two cats. This place was alive. It was a moment.

That's what family is. A series of moments. Not often enough, and quickly gone by, but precious as precious can be.

There was good food, conversation, laughter, football on TV. The Kid was a kid - fun, energetic, unpredictable, fresh and alive. The cats and the dog were initially separated, but thanks to the stubbornness of the little one, we let them mingle and.......................it was painless. They were curious, each to the other, but that's as far as it got - no rough stuff or difficult scenes. It was pretty cool.

Carol and I got to spend around four hours with our family yesterday, celebrating a birthday and an anniversary. It is what we live for. It is what everybody lives for. Spending time with people you trust, people you love, people you respect, in a comfortable and fun setting just being family. Just being alive, judgement and responsibility-free.

Sitting in my recliner this morning, glancing over in between pages at the sun drenched scene, and alternately feeling sad and smiling.

I want my entire life to be that moment. I'm tired of worry, tired of obligations, tired of being responsible.

I am tired of feeling that I am at war with the world and everyone in it. It kinda wears me down.

But I do have those moments. Moments that justify my existence.

I'll take them every chance I get.