The In Betweens

A record amount of tornadoes ripped through our state and several others yesterday. Perfectly astounding as far as I was concerned. Going on about a normal Saturday, clipping coupons, sipping a latte, playing ring a round the rosy and airplane races. On a whim Nat and I decided to go out for a little girl bonding and some shopping. Torrential downpour made it almost impossible for us to see the road, hail the size of golfballs pounded our windshield, streetlights out, cars wrecked on the side of the road, giant trees blocking the highway. Oblivious to everything we were calmly headed for our destination and turning on the radio I soon realized what a dangerous situation we were in.

Thank God we were able to turn around at a blockade, making it back home just as the weather service spotted the tornado 8 miles from us. Gathering little warm bodies, a box of crackers, sippy cups and a battery powered DVD player we hunkered down in our coat closet. Happily they snuggled into a pile of winter coats, singing along with Little Einsteins and passing cheddar crackers all around..giggling..chattering, not even realizing what raged outside us. So close.

As I sat there, legs folded in a pretzel, wedged between two guitars and an old mirror, Will bouncing on my knee I couldn't help but flash to all the normal moments. When nothing big or grand or super exciting is happening. Brushing teeth before bed, laughing at a bubble beard in the bathtub, reading Good Night Moon over and over, pushing a small, wiggling boy on a swing, chasing each other around the backyard, sharing an interesting story over dinner, trying to hear my husband over the clamor of little voices eager to join in, "Who was it?", "Why did they say that?" "What did you say Daddy?", never a private conversation. Singing our dinner prayer, playing dominos, enjoying the crash and clatter, Will earnestly scribbling a picture while cheerfully humming an unintelligible tune..long afternoons reading on the back porch, barely finishing two sentences before needing to rescue someone from an impromptu sprinkler shower, give a push down the slide, catch a wayward beetle or lizard or toad, run a couple of races around the fenceline...

The in betweens. The time when nothing of note (or seemingly so) is taking place, but life is still happening. It's only when the huge, momentous, life changing events happen that you truly realize the sweetness of the simple things. A bear hug..an invitation to read a beloved story...smiles over spoons loaded with cookie batter, more smeared over small faces...a long kiss goodnight...a walk in the early evening, a little girl's hand reaching eagerly for your own...the rush to find you wherever you are because something is so special you must tell mom...the end of the day celebration when daddy comes home...

All of it so poignant, so full, so splendid and yet often I miss it waiting for the big moments..or getting caught up in the irritating details of maintaining life, and I forget to revel in the magic...the in betweens..

"That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." ~Emily Dickinson