If I close my eyes and inhale deeply, I can still smell the lingering scent of the Sandlewood Woodwick candle we burned earlier while lounging all splayed in different directions on my bed together sharing, talking, and listening to one another; enjoying that bond that only mothers and daughters have. How wonderful to be ‘the middle’ and be both the mother and the daughter in this trio, experiencing the “Words Of Wisdom” that are offered from the generations both before and after me.
It has been a rainy day that started out with a fresh, warm breeze and grew cooler as the day waned on. It is now raining lightly, steadily and I find it soothing here on the porch in the wee hours of the morning before daybreak.
My hands stop for a moment which allows my busy yet tired mind the opportunity to catch up with my flying fingers, enjoying the quiet and stillness of it all, knowing this busy city will leave not a moment of this peace all too soon but for these few, dead of night hours. I am exhausted but at the same time, my mind is replete with the past few days as I enjoyed my time with the two most important women in my life. These times are much too rare and even rarer still that all three of us are able to be together at once.
I didn’t get to bed, to sleep, until after midnight. Unconcerned with of having to get up for work in the morning, I remain in the moment as I listen to the restful breathing from the other room. I slept quite soundly for about four and a half hours before I woke with words in my head, sentences about them both that would not remain still until I had enough rest to organize them at a later time. I am so fond of these two women; these inspirational, wonderful, caring, beautiful in every sense of the word, gentle women that I sit here with my Earl Gray at my keyboard in a silent house, fingers tap, tap, tapping in contrast to the rain as I reflect on the past three days.
I think back over the evening: dinner around the table, taking bites of shrimp, chicken and pasta laced with butter, garlic and white wine. We sat sipping our Liebfraumilch between bites of dinner and words. How our faces seemed so animated with conversation, the carefree laughter filling the room with a melody no radio could. Getting caught up with one another: The winter in Florida and the accident update, the Friday night and Sunday lunch from three weeks ago, the pressures and demands of being the Acting Manager and the passing of a dear pet. Reminiscing about ‘The Good Ole Days’: Christmas in July at the pond, the concert at the church which is ironically now around the corner – literally – from my house, ‘Grandy’ swinging on the hand-made swing and the lovely family dinner “ Up On The Hill” two summers ago when we, this trio, were together last.
Later, the kitchen having been tidied, dishwasher humming quietly along, coffee made and set to brew, we headed upstairs and eventually found our way to my bedroom. Lying on my bed, we likened ourselves to school girls having a slumber party; best friends sharing all our deep, dark secrets as well as a few stories and lessons. The image of three pint size ice cream containers comes to mind, lined up on an old dresser, carefully carved slits in the top of each one, construction paper taped over the labels: “Spend, Share, Save”.
Tomorrow (I guess really it’s today) will bring an end to this get together. Cars and my truck will be started to carry each of us in different directions, back to our “Every Day Lives.” I miss them already. I don’t know when our next time, the three of us, will be but they have each left behind yet another trace in my life, another memory for my heart. Their presence still felt – held in the quiet of this rainy moment, now nearing dawn.
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