Scrupulous. Intentional. Breathing in moments.
That’s how I envisioned last week would be. Daily life landed me far from the mark, and I missed some moments. One moment in particular hurt my heart a little bit, but sometimes that’s what it takes to snag my attention.
I was working in the yard moving plants as my daughter walked out of the house toward her Jeep. I walk up alongside her, give her a hug, and as she backs out, I stroll over to the pathway of stepping stones in the middle of the yard and wait for her to drive by. Except that day, I had a shovel in my hand and was moving one more plant.
This is something new we began doing this year, and it’s become ritual.
Normally, I stand on the path, wait for her to drive by and give her this wave filled with exuberance, like Miss America after drinking way too much coffee. She waves too, but that day when she drove by, I was in the side yard, so I missed the wave. It’s difficult to know how important something is until it’s missed.
A few days later she was leaving the house and we stepped through our leaving ritual. I suggested when she reached the end of the driveway to turn in the opposite direction and drive by the house one lot over that had been beautifully repainted. She sat there a moment and said, “But if I go that way, I’ll miss the wave.”
I smiled and on que began walking toward the middle of the yard to the path. This time, there was no missing the wave.
There once was a guy who named his dog, ‘Stay.’ When he called him to come the poor dog heard, “Come here, Stay.”
Letitgocoach 
Ohhh – as a mom of two girls I totally get and totally love this!!!
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I thought you would! Thank you Kat. ❤
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❤️❤️❤️
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We too have a ritual wave…All the kids, and a few others, know to look to the kitchen window..our wave has it’s roots in the Princess Bride… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-3VxOqHI-4 Great post. DM
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That’s sweet DM. Thank you!
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And just as down to earth as you and me. No aspirations to fame or any of that. Just nice.
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The wave is important. It reminded me of the importance of morning hugs.
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Awww… I really get that. Sometimes those little things mean so much, and especially when they punctuate our day with a moment of joy. It seems a given, like you say, but when it’s absent or disrupted, things don’t flow quite right.
Great quote from Elizabeth Gilbert, who, BTW, lives in the town about 6 miles from me. 😊
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Yes ma’am. I didn’t even realize she counted on it happening, until the day I missed it. She waved, and I had my hands full, but I saw her face. 😦 OMG!!! I would be meeting Elizabeth for coffee once a week! Thank you lovely. I came across the quote and just had to use it! 🙂
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I have had conversations with her at Two Buttons, the import she used to own in Frenchtown, and also saw her at a special talk she gave about writing. She is a genuinely nice person.
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Wow. That’s awesome. I imagine she is. ❤
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