Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Don't Blink

The storms move through quickly last night and fortunately we had no damage. This morning was cool but the sun came out bright as a beacon. When I went out to feed the critters, I wore shorts and a sweatshirt.
The wind and rain stripped the pollen from the trees and the air was so crisp and fresh it almost burned my lungs.
Jilda had a dental appointment early to get her teeth cleaned (she loves dentists), so our great nephew Jordan stayed with me while she was out.
At mid morning, he looked at me and said, "I have an idea, why don't we go to the barn!"  I looked at him wide-eyed and said -- that's a great idea.
We did all the routine stuff, which is to check on the tractor and all the implements, we checked the bat houses at the back of the barn, we looked for deer tracks, and the we headed down the path to meditation rock.
Ever so often, I'd stop and ask Jordan what he sees. It's a game we play. I'm trying to help him get into the habit of being observant.  He didn't like the game very much at first and he'd say, "I don't see anything."
But then I'd point out mushrooms growing on tree stumps, dead limbs that looked like snakes, rocks that looked like fish, and tiny purple flowers growing right next to his feet.
After a few times, he got into the game and started rattling off things that he saw. Much of what he said, I still don't understand, but I acted like I did.
I can almost see him growing before my eyes. What's interesting, is that we babysat with his mom when she was his age. It seems like yesterday, and yet she's about to graduate from college, she's a single mom, and we're keeping her child.
Soon, he'll be going to pre-school and won't be spending Tuesdays and Thursdays with us. If I listen closely, I can almost hear the sand as it ticks through the hourglass.
As the country song goes, Don't Blink.

10 comments:

  1. Glad you survived the storm! They grow up so fast don't they? Just seems like yesterday my niece/goddaughter was taking a bottle -- she'll be in Kindergarten in the fall...*sigh*

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  2. I saw the storm reports on the news - trees a jillion feet tall, weighing about 500 tons falling on pickups...yeesh!

    Glad you and Jilda are okay. Your little guy is very cute. Lucky you to get to enjoy those days together.

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  3. Don't Blink.
    A very good thing to remember!

    A very thought provoking post...thank you.

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  4. I loved reading these thoughts - and you have hit the nail on the head; it seems just a short time since my grandaughter was a tiny babe - now she's over 2, off to kindergarten 3 afternoons a week, talks non-stop about anything and everything (What's this, Granma?)

    - and her little brother is now a tiny babe...

    :)

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  5. Awwww Jordan is so so so so sweet!! What a cutie!!! It's amazing how life truly does go round in cycles!!! What a joy! Take care
    x

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  6. Isn't that the truth Rick? And isn't funny how the sand seems to speed up through the hour glass towards the end? Love Di ♥

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  7. I love sharing the outside with kids....and adults. Gives a greater appreciation of the world around you. Glad it is a little warmer today...time to go back out and do some weeding now that the rain encouraged all those little weed seeds.

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  8. And that small space in which the sand escapes seems to grow wider each year, the sand flowing faster! Funny how children can hasten and slow that process. I like the slowing part, like the game you played w/Jordan. That sort of looking at the world through a child's eyes can really freeze the moment, while simultaneously making it much larger. :)

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  9. I love the observing game. So cool what you're teaching your little nephew. What a treasure you both have.

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  10. Anonymous12:38 AM

    I absolutely love the song "Don't Blink". So glad to hear you are still alive. I hope Jordan doesn't grow up too fast it's no fun being grown up.

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