Little m Long a

My wife’s got a new gig.  Unfortunately, it requires her to travel quite a bit.  I’m not complaining, it’s all good and it’s been great for the family.  I only bring it up to note that when she’s away (like last night) I sleep with my bedroom door open.  In case I need to hear anything in the middle of the night.  You know, like the pitter-patter of tiny feet that aren’t sleeping.

Prime example — this morning.  In the cloud of disorientation that is the early morning around Casa de Ed I heard footsteps.  Footsteps before the alarm.  Generally, this is not a good thing.  I was also able to determine with my super-spidey-senses that these footsteps were not of the pitter-patter variety.

I thought that Maura might have come home though I quickly realized she’s gone for one more day.  A quick glance at the clock and I knew.

7:11 am.

Grandma!!

Crap!!!

I had forgotten to set the alarm clock.

Again.

Having learned our lessons, neither of us wishing to repeat the past, we talked through the wall and from under the covers.  “Give me ten minutes.”

“I’ll wait in the car,” she replied.

I woke the kids with an apology and a sense of urgency.  “Get up, kids and pee on the runway!  There’s a sea plane coming in!”  In what seemed the same motion I tossed uniforms, bananas and book bags at them funneling their sleepy bodies toward the door.  I’m not sure Zia had on shoes.

Zoë looked back as she stepped outside and stated, almost asking, “I love you, Dad?”

It took nine minutes.

They may have even made it to school on time.

Albeit without lunches.

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!