Little m Long a

Today was the first official day of summer vacation.  They let me sleep until 8:30 am.

Life is good!

I appreciate intrinsic beauty and consider myself fortunate to gaze upon it, bask in it or simply let it absorb me.

Oftentimes, I take for granted that I am surrounded by the wonderful, enshrouded by it’s ever-presence in my life.

Beautiful children and a lovely wife are but a few that spring to the top of my mind.

While the list of things I might enjoy to look upon is quite extensive, I can say the same of those I would rather not.

Namely—-sunrise on a Sunday morning!!

For the love of God, kids!  Please go back to sleep!!

The alarm woke me at 7:00am.  I hit the snooze button, though I did not immediately return to my slumber.  As I’m often prone to do, I began thinking of the day ahead.

And then it dawned on me–I’m completely out of coffee!

Unable to imagine the prospect of facing the morning sans coffee, I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep.

It’s 9:00 am and I’m sitting here enjoying the sounds….of silence.  Well, it’s not complete silence.  My computer makes a constant high pitched humming noise and the keys do make a bit of noise as I type, but other than that—-silence.  Well, the coffee pot is gurgling in the kitchen but that’s a good sound. So other than the humming computer, the sound of typing and a gurgling coffee pot—–silence.

Oh, wait.  I just heard Rusty barking and what’s that?  Footsteps above.  Kids exchanging morning pleasantries and laughter.

Oh well.  It was nice while it lasted.  Maybe I can at least get that cup of coffee poured before they figure out that I’m downstairs.

There’s something to be said for Sleep Late Sundays.  The kids anticipate it’s arrival almost as eagerly as I.  A lazy day with no schedule.  No practices or agendas.  Just sleep in and go where the day leads us.  We normally begin our day with my now world famous from scratch pancakes.  It’s kind of morphed into a whole experience.

The kids will often help with the ingredients and pancake mixing.  Sausage sizzles and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee lifts everyone’s spirits.  Jazz plays softly in the background.  It has become one of my favorite family experiences.  Ah yes.  Sleep Late Sunday.

Today’s Sunday Sonnet (penned just moments ago) was inspired by the unexpected.  I really slept in this morning.  It felt good.

Waking in a Dream

Something surreal about sleeping in,
Like waking in a time warp, groggy.
Stumbling towards the bedroom door
Hesitant, unsure of what lies beyond.

It’s quiet.  Did the kids sleep, too?
Giggles.  Footsteps.  Twins are up.
Laughter and squeals and warm
Good morning hugs.  Nothing compares.

But three are missing.  Beds are empty
(Unmade, of course, but empty)
Silence.  No sign of them upstairs.
I hear them, voices calm, agreeable.

In the living room.  Playing chess?
Surreal indeed!

*As I typed this, the calm agreeable voices of children that appear to love each other and get along transformed into the screaming, crying, arguing children that normally dwell in this place.  That’s more like it.

Sleepy time is over!