Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Goodnight Moon: The Sequel

Time: July 3, 11 p.m.


In the great, green room, there was a mother

and three small bikes

and three helmets

and red, white and blue pipe cleaners

and rolls of streamers

and blue painter's tape

and yards of red and white tulle

and a Target bag cut into strips

and the knowledge that gratitude from

a child is better when neither expected nor

demanded

and the confidence that each child will

feel (s)he decorated his own bike

and the wondering how many of these

small gifts her own mother gave, unnoticed.


Epilogue: The mother reads Judson's Story and feels, watching those sparkling eyes and then that tiny coffin through her tears, that each small opportunity to make a memory, to stay up past bedtime to produce morning delight, to give time and effort that for the time being will be taken for granted ... is a gift with no regrets.


Incidentally, the two girls won first place in the bike and trike divisions of the parade the following morning, much to my astonishment. I guess occasionally we reap a few temporal rewards as well.

6 comments:

Stephanie said...

Great post. Love Eliza's dress!

How did you make the photo montage?

Eclectic Mama said...

What fun! I wanna move to your neighborhood!

Naomi said...

Eliza looks ADORABLE!!!

Jared Dilg said...

The bikes look great - no wonder they won! Tim should get a prize too for the awesome shorts :-)

Hannah said...

Steph, I used Picasa Upload to make the collage. Love it; it's insanely easy. I'll email you too in case you're not checking the comments!

Vanessa said...

I really like that photo collage. Did you use Picasa? Oh wait, just read your comment to Stephanie. Big hugs to the girls for winning first prize. . .LOVE the outfits! Oh to be a little girl again and wear dresses like that!