It’s funny how certain things, things that have been in your possession for years, things that had no particular significance when they came into your being other than that they just were, can all of a sudden hold deep meaning. Importance. Relevance.
Five minutes, maybe longer. That’s all I took, honest. After breakfast this morning I took just a short constitutional to the family library. Don’t be impressed. Remember the little hovel of a bedroom that Harry Potter had under the staircase in his uncle’s house? Yeah, think that but smaller. It’s got a light, a lavatory and a seat that is quite comfortable and best of all the door locks. It’s one of the few locking doors in the house. This morning’s read, a magazine or sales flyer, back of a tissue box, whatever else may be within arms reach and a cup of coffee. Five minutes. Then I would be off to the tasks of the day. My list was quite extensive and there would be little time for dilly dally.
The twins, had other plans.
This was not on my list today. Are they trying to tell me something?
In other news….The Lenten Season begins tomorrow. Ash Wednesday. As is tradition in the Catholic faith, or so I’m told, Lent represents the 40 day liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter the purpose being preparation through prayer, penitence, alms giving and self denial. It represents the 40 days that Christ spent alone in the desert fasting, praying and enduring the temptations of the devil. Throughout history the season of Lent has been one of tightly held traditions. For the non-Catholic I’m sure it brings to mind little more than the phrase, “So, what are you giving up for Lent?”, the exact question I posed to my children this afternoon.
Zoë, after giving the matter considerable thought decided to give up candy and sweets. More discussion among the kids and Zane eventually relented.
“OK. I’ll give up candy, too”, he said.
“So, Zia. What are you going to give up for Lent?” I asked.
(Long pause.)
“I’m going to give up…….
TOOTHPASTE.”
It’s going to be a long 40 days.
