Sunday, October 15, 2006

Sunday Scribblings- Freezing Time

Posted by Picasa I spend way too much time sitting at my computer, reading about other people’s thoughts, dreams, wishes and achievements. I have been so inspired by what people, women especially, are doing in their daily lives, ordinary people, people like me. That’s just the point, people like me. We are not celebrities, superstars, or even superheroes. There is a connection that I feel when I read or admire someone else’s work.

However inspiring the work may be, I do not have the time to admire and also create. Once I turn on my computer, sit my bum in front of my black flat panel screen and click the old internet icon, I get sucked right in. Sometimes I do not know how much time has lapsed since I last came up for air. Sucked into the web abyss. Quickly I become inspired. But it is like an addiction. And anyone who has had an addiction knows that it is almost impossible to know when to stop. So I go on and on, letting my little addiction suck the inspiration right out of me and steal my time away.

We are always chasing time. And yet- time is constant. It is regulated mathematically.
Although our bodies are bound by the laws of physics, chemistry and biology, our minds and souls work on the properties of perception.

I do not need more time. If I had it I would just waste more of it. What I wish is that I could appreciate what I have when I have it, that I could be driven by my own motivation and be satisfied by what I have and what I am. I often allow my fears to consume too much of my time, too much of my life. I have allowed my insecurities to keep me from achieving some of my dreams and desires.

A year and a half ago I was pregnant with my third child. I quit my job and stayed home with the kids. In the beginning, summertime, it was wonderful. I has so much time to be outside, play games, clean my house, cook healthy meals. But after Cecilia arrived, and the kids went back to school and the weather turned from fall to winter, I had too much time. Too much time to fill. And I felt stuck. Having such a small baby at home rooted me to the house and the regular daily household chores. I went through the same daily routine each and every day. I felt like the characters in the movie Groundhogs Day with Bill Murray. I felt stuck. S-T-U-C-K. And that’s what I think it would feel like to stop time. Time is momentum. And as I’ve said before, physics and chemistry. Momentum is necessary.

But if I could go back in time just to visit once in a while, that would be the icing on the cake. I could visit my grandparents again. Swim in their pool in the back yard on a hot summer day. Sipping lemonade and eating Pecan Sandies by the side of the pool. Ride on Papas back as he dived beneath the water. Feeling the sun burn into my skin. I would like to visit that day every now and then.

I would also like to go back to the day that my first child was born. It was such a high, all of them were really, but the first one. I felt so connected with God. I felt as though I had accomplished so much. My family was so excited and so proud of me. My grandparents were so excited to see Alex that they were there within an hour of his birth. They played pass the baby, oxygen monitor and all. The love in that room was incredible. I could feel it, taste it. It was delicious. When it was time for bed and everyone had to leave, my grandfather kissed me on the head and thanked me. At 84 years old, he thanked me. It was one of the last memories I have of my grandfather. Although at the time of Alex’s birth we did not know, he did not know, that he would not be with us much longer. But that day was magic. Absolute magic.

So no I have no dreams of stopping time- I would just like to once in a while, use my superhero powers to time travel now and again.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agreee - stopping time at those most beautiful moments would be ideal! You have some lovely memories - thanks for sharing them :)

Jerri said...

Your honesty here is so refreshing. I, too, lose track of time when reading others' blogs. Almost every day I resolve to spend less time reading and more time doing, but that resolve dissolves into my fascination with their stories.

How lucky you are to have had such a wonderful birth experience. Never thought of love as having a taste, but now that you've mentioned it, I understand that it does.

Thanks for a great read.

Colorsonmymind said...

I love your candor. And I had to LOl at the line where you say you don't need more time-you would just waste it:)