This I Vow!... from the play of lighted screens to a beautiful screening of lights!

The Man on the Moon...as seen August 18th/11

Last week my husband and I were both off for the week!  Yay holidays!   Having recently made note of our  rituals oft' taking place after dinner...no no, get your mind out of the gutter....I'm talking about the t.v and the computer, we took a vow for our holiday week.    He would not indulge in television shows and I would not be immersed in Facebook; or internet biways!  
It was a good week...quite enjoyable.   We had a couple of days of simply puttering about getting our "Honey Do" tasks complete and a couple of days of little road trips to points north and north east.  

On one particular evening the moon so bright for viewing, I indulged in our son's viewing scope on the tripod and spent a couple of hours looking to the sky!   A gorgeous evening and I found myself inspired to write as well!
Here are a couple sampling's from my time beneath the stars.

Sky Lit Ponderings
Here I sit upon my front porch step,
Previously at the hour locked focus on a brightly lit screen.
Awakedness slowly stolen 'til it's suddenly time for bed.
But not tonight, no screen before me,
but a nightscape of clouds and sky and stars and an orchestra of night sounds filling up my head.
Techno release.

Relinquished
He reads, I write.
With hours to while we fill the night.
Embracing words in mind, in pen.
So quiet, so much to hear.
Of books, his quest.
A silent light, thy time will test.
Busy hands release thoughts,
Mine eyes to focus barely listening.
A step outdoors, takes me in,
I look to wonder where have I been;
While night quiet I hear, too the beauty is loud.
How could I now retire to sleep.

In the Scheme of things....Bye, bye Baby.

It's been a long day...I had a big ol' cry tonight while watching Toy Story 3, ...the subject matter too close to home.  Change is constant in life and while we know about certain changes, the inevitability of, when they present,  we sometimes find we haven't been quite so honest with ourselves at all in how we thought we would react,  or adjust to these changes.   I am there.   I knew it was coming and thought I was prepared.   Two of our three children have already left the nest; one having returned this spring - while temporarily.  
This time IS different, it's...THE BABY!   The only daughter!  ...not that having another daughter would make it any different or easier, it's just so in your face!   This is it, she's heading away to school...there's no turning back the hands of time!  Oh how I wish I knew that last evening of playing barbies with her was the last...when did we last play house, or have a tea party?    I know you certainly don't make a point of playing and telling your child, "...so this is the last time we will ever play dollies together!", but somehow you believe there should have been something to alert you, it just might be.   I know too well I have to be so thankful to have her to enjoy and celebrate so many more events, moments and milestones in her life and keep reminding myself of that.  Very recently a family I know lost one of their children in a tragic accident; their daughter and I can't help but think about their loss.  They have lost their child, a part of their family and are now going over every moment they had with her and while rejoicing in what memories they have of her, wishing there could be more time to make more precious moments.   We don't know what time we have and indeed that I am fortunate enough to see her going on to a new adventure in her life is a gift.  
I know I'll be fine as her Dad and I adjust and I do a tiny bit of "refurbishing" in her room that is now merely a shell of what it was before the elements of her "character" had been transported to her new digs in the city.  Dad is pretty quiet about it all but when the "goodbyes" come, I know it's going to hit hard.   I recall the day we brought her home from the hospital and he had tears rolling down his face and I asked what was wrong, and he said he wasn't sure, but that it was hard to believe we had a daughter, a little girl.
Of course there is sadness in the realization that it's true, time does go by so very fast, but joy in knowing what wonderful discoveries lie ahead for her and that she will be excitedly sharing them with us as they come and go and she blossoms even more as a person in who she is and what brings happiness and fulfillment to her in becoming that person and the learning along the way.
Bye bye to our Baby, as she says "Hello" to a world at her feet.