A Frozen Moment
In my world, "Lunch break" is an oxymoron. There is nothing break-ish about what I do at lunch, nor is there anything lunch-ish about what I do when I break. It's a mad dash to accomplish all of those things that have to be done to keep a household running smoothly. Letters get mailed. Groceries are purchased. Errands are run.
I had already figured out that I could be in the store for seven minutes if I was to make it back to the office in time for a conference call. Just seven minutes to run in and grab those essentials that couldn't wait. I would have had more time, but there were big, fluffy white flakes falling from the sky. As they blanketed the ground and turned the city into a snowglobe, drivers everywhere slowed to a near stop. I love the snow; I don't love how people drive in it.
I parked and quickly scurried towards the door. Each flake that flittered to the ground was like a tick on the stop watch of life. I stomped on snow as it fell softly on the ground, silently cursing it for slowing everyone down. Didn't the snow realize it would be better if it waited until I was done running errands?
As I neared the door, I saw her. A little girl a bit older than Alexis walked slowly towards the grocery store, her eyes open wide as they marveled at the sky. Her long brown hair was decorated by a perfect crown of snowflakes. Her mouth was opened into a wide grin as she reached here and there, doing everything she could to catch as many snowflakes as possible.
I stopped and watched her. Her joy was like contagious rays of sunshine cutting through a cloudy sky. I smiled as she continued across the parking lot, fully entranced in her game.
It was, easily, the best 30 seconds of my day.
As the little girl and her mom entered the store, I felt a pang of sadness. Her mom had been rushing, nearly dragging the little girl in her urgency to get inside. She had missed the entire scene.
It's hard to have a bad day when you're catching snowflakes with your tongue. It's too bad life doesn't always afford us the time to realize it.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Reader Comments (11)
This is probably one of my favorite posts of yours. Thank you so much for taking the time to notice her. We have all been that mom rushing in to the store more often then not....
My child is 15 now and I find myself looking around at the smaller children around us and noticing their simple pleasures - unfortunately I think it is more often than I noticed his when he was growing up.
This is a beautiful moment - I'm glad you got to share in it!
Betsy
Ditto. One of my favorites. Really. Like wow.
My daughter (Baby Girl) likes to remind people to just stop and smell the flowers. I don't care if they're at Walmart and they don't really smell that good, when she asks (which is always) I always oblige. Every time. I've noticed other people noticing, too. She's my little "Life is too short, stop and smell the roses" reminder and I like to think she does it for others, too.
BEST post of my morning! I love it... Dare I say it- I love you for writing about it!
and honestly, we've all had people be late for conference calls for much less important reasons
@hello haha narf--True 'dat. I'm all for being late when it's about a coffee stop. Heh.
I could go for a snowflake on the tongue break, it sounds so relaxing right now.
Best Post Ever.
That is all.
Lubs you, you mind reader, you...
Oh.
yes.
I keep trying to remind myself of this.
yes. yes. yes
<3 you
Oh, man. This post made me take a deep breath and just BE for a moment. There is something so magical about watching children take in the world around them and about their finding joy in the things that drive us up the wall. You are beautiful.
Good choice, momma. :)