I woke early, before the alarm was set to sound, just as the first glow of light began pushing out the night. Laying for an extra second, to take in the sound of the two youngest babies asleep on each side of me, I had to ask my body to rise out of that soft comfort and into my day. Attempting to keep my sleepers asleep I walked my heavy steps as lightly as I could across those old boards and straight down the stairs, grabbing my clothes as I moved. A kitty sat waiting on either side of the front door so I opened it and let them pass. The outside world was just shimmering awake. The leaves rustled a bit with energy in the soft breeze and I thought about hurricanes and the quiet before a storm. I saw bits and pieces of the previous day spread out across the yard. A wagon. A bike helmet and shoes. Several scraps of wood that Adelaide nailed together. End of the Day Papa may have been less than enthusiastic to see these remnants strewn about but Morning Papa found them pleasant and perfectly placed.
The house was so still, like time had time had stopped, and I was allowed to observe everything for a few moments before it started again. The stove clicked up a flame and I put on coffee. Staring out the window I saw the Sun almost ready to climb into view and I'll admit to wanting that moment to stretch and that peace of the soft light to go on a bit longer. But this ball spins and that horizon came gently to light reminding the world to move once again. Still morning. Still breathing.
I held my warm cup and found myself staring from each window to take in the shifted light. Not quite ready to type I continued past the studio and back onto the front steps to sit and have a sip. The breeze had picked up and clouds were moving overhead. It won't be long before the first of my own start to stir and a fresh day shifts into another gear. I wonder at what today will hold for me, for us. We are seven paths of life that are moving across this continuum of time. Each on our own, all of us together. Our paths cross and come together and diverge and intersect with others and continue across this blank sheet of opportunity that is our future. That blank sheet bursts into life as each moment passes and then fades with our memories as it is left behind with the rest of history.
Our lifetime playing out all around us, complete with its joy and sadness and mystery and love. We are only human and this is only one morning, sitting still.
