Jars, Blankets and Slamming Doors

I can feel a breeze. Hear the birds. Smell the air…be in the middle of the woods and not have to coat myself in bug spray. I just love a screened in porch. It’s the perfect place to relax…read a book…take a nap…drink morning coffee and feel safe from the pesky things that crawl and buzz around out there…Porch time is good for the soul.

…maybe I should say older souls….

Because it occurs to me that it is not the way of a child to sit on a porch. They have things to do and worlds to discover! They are the ones coming and going…letting the door slam behind them.

Here on this porch, I close my eyes, and I’m there. I see it. I hear it.

Running in to get a mason jar for critters (slam!)… “Dad, we need a shovel to dig to China” (slam!)… “Mom, we GOTTA have this blanket! We won’t get it dirty!” (slam!). Barefoot in dirt and gravel, bathing suit top and shorts…uninhibited, fearless and ready to create and discover!

Oh, the glory of childhood days…

I open my eyes and I’m ready to get this filled up soul of mine off the porch and let that door slam behind me. Don’t get me wrong…I still love the porch. In fact, I’ll probably be right back in about an hour or so. I’m just thinking sometimes I do too much sitting and not enough door slamming. And maybe sometimes what my soul needs is a metaphorical blanket, shovel, and jar full of critters. There is still much to discover!!!….

But first…bug spray…shoes… and a nice, clean short-sleeved shirt with elasticized capris…I am not a child… I AM 50…

(slam!)