Thursday, August 30, 2012

Don't Blink

Here I go again attempting a post without photos. For some reason, I just always want a picture to remember things by but, sometimes words will just have to do.

I titled this Don't Blink after a Kenny Chesney song. My reason? I guess because once again I am seeing my family grow up right before my eyes and it's happening so quickly. 

I took a photo of our front door but, what I wanted you to see didn't show up. Our front door is glass from top to bottom, you can see in and you can see out. Sometimes  it's uncomfortable to have everyone be able to see in. I mean what if one of us is walking around naked? Well, I don't think that ever happens but, it could or maybe it does. Hmmm.... And then this morning when some guys were selling steaks out of their car trunks, I know they saw I was here but, I didn't feel like answering the door. But, we always know who's at the door. No doubt about it.

When our Grandaughter started walking around here about 3 years ago, going to the front door putting her little chubby hands on the glass and looking out was such a treat for her. And especially if the dog or the cat were on the front porch or mostly when it was her Pop Pop coming in for lunch or her Mommy and Daddy picking her up. At the end of the day, after she had gone home, I would see her little handprints and it just made me smile. I wouldn't windex them off. To me they said....she was here.  

Then I would think about all the times our three kids were little and I was striving to be a "Good Housekeeping kind of wife and mom" and I would windex every finger print and hand print off of  everything.  I believe I gave up some opportunities to just enjoy their ages in pursuit of being Suzy Housekeeper. And that makes me sad.

So, I forgave myself for that and realized I can't change anything in the past and I know my kids grew up knowing I loved them and they all still learned how to clean a little in the process.

But, my role now is different. I am a Mom to three grown kids and  a Grandmother to a beautiful grandaughter and soon to be a handsome grandson and I treasure every smear, smudge and hand and fingerprint left on the doors, windows and tabletops. Of course, they still have to be cleaned sometimes but, mostly I leave them and I smile. Because I know I will blink and these little ones will be grown,too.

Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink


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