Day 19-Talent to Appreciate

Yesterday as I made a list of many of the wonderful books and authors I love, I recalled writing this paper so I would never forget my daughter's answer to an assignment she had when she was only 16 and I was 43.  Although I no longer drive children to and fro close by, I do drive with them on extended trips, such as to college, to Tahoe, or to their home in another state.  We call or text about the happenings of our day, I help when needed near or far, and I still have a few more meals in me to cook.  I turn on a book-on-tape when I do a project or country music when I feel the need to clean.  I watch the shows I DVR while I cook, and I twirl in my kitchen when I feel like it.  At 54, I have learned to appreciate life with its ebbs and flows and ups and downs. Mostly, I appreciate my family and dear friends.  Here is what I wrote eleven year ago on November 15, 2003:

             J. K. Rowling.  Now that’s a woman’s shoes I would love to step into and try them on for size.  Five bestseller books with the famous character Harry Potter and every age fan clamoring for the next book to read.  Other than that, I have never really wanted to be famous—only really rather good at something.  Dreams of becoming a great writer and dancer have chosen to live a place in my heart labeled “appreciation”.  At 43, I am learning that perhaps to appreciate life whatever it holds is a talent of sorts.

In my life, I write, on occasion.  I dance, on occasion.  Mostly, I mother.  Instead of writing, I read with my children incredible well-written books by well-known authors.  Instead of dancing, my family attends musicals where I have my children dream they are actors, singers, and dancers on a stage.  I happily dream too.  However, I come back to Earth fairly quickly and remember the world created for me.  Daily I pick my children up from school, listen to the happenings of their day, and help them on homework while preparing for dinner.

On one such day, my second daughter Juliann has an assignment to write about what would make her life extraordinary.  She responds:

        “I would be happy with just an ordinary life.  I would love to marry, to have the marriage work, and to raise lots of children.  As I raise my children, I would enjoy working as a part-time nurse so that I could be home when my children are awake, running them from soccer to swimming practice to music lessons.  Perhaps I would even become an EMT, but not just in an ambulance—that would be ordinary.  I would choose to fly in a helicopter; thus, realizing two dreams of helping others while flying at the same time.”

I inject that flying in a helicopter as an EMT would be icing on the cake, but too much sugar is not always good. 

She sighs and smiles as she says, “Perhaps I will stay on the ground and be happy still.  A successful marriage with good, happy children would make my life extraordinary.  To some, that may seem ordinary, but not to me.”

Being a wife and mother is extraordinary!  A breeze—no way.  Overwhelming—often.  Mundane—sometimes.  Happy—mostly.  I am not writing extraordinary books or dancing in extraordinary productions, but I am contributing to an extraordinary family:  unique and my own.

The talent to appreciate and love whatever life holds for us is a gift.  Seeing the glass full is a blessing.  I try to remind myself to be grateful for each new day, which has "no mistakes in it yet" (L. M. Montgomery).  Loving God, loving family, loving friends, loving myself, and loving life allow me to tackle another carpool, to wrestle with another load of laundry or to fix another meal and to try to do it better than the day before.  When no one is looking I may twirl in the kitchen dreaming my hardwood floor is a stage, but as I come to a stop my eyes rest upon a photograph of seven smiling faces and I am content.