Washed Away
Friday, September 18, 2009 at 1:54PM | Mr Lady She couldn't be more correct.
When the skin rolls off my thighs, this day rolls away with it, this day that burned into my legs and my mind and left me swollen with the heat and the joy that watching my family just simply play filled me with.
As my shoulders heal and the tan lines flake off and fade back to white, the vision of floating beside my son, watching him discover a whole new world he never knew existed, fades with them. The amazement that filled his eyes, that he silently shared with my under water through goggles, amongst schools of fish we couldn't even identify, is fading to white in my mind.
The shorelines on my back are receding into my sides, parting the Red Sea that holds the flood of memories I carried home, heavy on my back, heavier still in my heart. Visions of silliness, echoes of laughter, whispers of contentment, waves of joy, all loose their foothold in the layers of my body they etched themselves into under sunny Pacific skies.
1. A Moment Alone, 2. Sandcastles Made Of Kids, 3. Channeling Abraham Lincoln, 4. Trix Are For Kids, 5. Sister and Brother, 6. Building Castles, 7. *bleeeeep!*, 8. Walking, 9. SPLASH!, 10. Yeah, He's Pretty Hot, 11. A Little Too Small, 12. Whee!
My fingers feel dry around the pen I hold, writing out complicated grocery lists that accommodate the different needs of my different children, and it makes me ache for the days without lists, the days my lap wasn't full of school work and projects and laundry, the days my lap was filled with the only thing I've ever wanted it to be.
My eyes adjust to the grey of fall, surrendering to it the blues and oranges that draped us in the perfect harmonies of nature.
I fight to hold on to those days, those first days in the life of our family simple and sweet. I'm afraid to let them go, to forget the magic that nestled into our skin and burrowed into our bones and left us bronzed and burnt and sore and perfectly content. And then my husband reminds me that the magic only lives if it's a wanting, a retreat we have to return to, and I think he might be right as I listen to my daughter rubbing lotion into my sunburnt, peeling back, telling me it will all be okay, that she will take my hoits away, asking me to not be afwaid. I realize that she's learned empathy, possibly from her days caring for a friend.
And with that I know that I've brought home everything I needed to, that those shores will wait for us to return and refill our cup until it, once again, runneth over.
{I took 1,750 pictures while we were gone. I will be 102 before I get them all edited, but they'll show up here as I get them done.}
{Also, I've got drugs over here today and I don't even know how I got heroin, hemorrhoids and eye cream in the same post, but I'm giving away one of those three at my review blog, too. You know, if you don't have anything better to do than read my dumb posts all day.}
Reader Comments (30)
The memories, the feelings they fade a little when we come home, but they always come flooding back faithfully when you recall them months, years down the road.
beautiful pics amazing words .. lovely memories .
Oh Mexico, how I miss you...
Sounds like a marvelous vacation..minus the burns. But 3of3 is just so dang cute, it kind of almost makes it worth it. Beautiful pictures, I can't wait to see more!
Isn't it funny how you don't realize how desperately you really needed a break, some family alone time, until you get it then have to come home. I am so glad you created so many fabulous memories. Your pix are amazing.
Never been to Mexico, but you made it sound like a grand place to just be with family. Amazing pictures of the kids.
Shannon,
I have tears in my eyes reading this.
The heart of that darling girl.. rubbing away your "hoits" and the love that flows from every word of this post.
Damn woman. You are brilliant and special and I am so very, very thrilled to my core that y'all had such a wonderful, memorable vacation and I know that one day... the 3 will read this and their hearts will swell and they will remember and then realize.. just how blessed they are and just how much their momma loves them.
Damn you write the most gorgeous things, friend. I love this.
Such beautiful pictures! Looks like a fabulous time!
Your writing is so beautiful. Loved it all.
The truth is, I know the fade you're speaking of. And I hate it. I have tried so hard to figure out a way to prevent it, but you can't. Try to approach it from the perspective an addict might approach his next fix. You want that feeling, that experience, SO badly again, you're just gonna have to go out and get it.
It's life. There aren't any rules. And, sometimes, there's comfort in that.
Sighing with delight at this post. Vacations are wonderful and bittersweet, all the same time. Those are some beautiful pictures, and you are incredibly lucky to have a little girl so helpful that she picks your peeling skin. :)
La magia de México está en tu corazón, no tu mente.
dude! looks like your vacation ROCKED!
I would like to be there...
I love those little moments that bring a vacation back to the front of your memories...
beautiful...
This is one of those posts that must be read. I adore @mrlady even if she is twitter-history http://bit.ly/ArAaz
Jealous of the trip. In awe of the words. You rock.
Sounds and looks perfect!
Me = completely jealous
You = incredibly blessed
Looks like it was a stunning holiday!
Wow, what I would give to visit that place at the moment.
Great pics.
Well, you'll just have to make a bit of a family tradition out of that trip won't you :).
Looks and sounds like it was absolutely divine. The photos are unreal.
But the words and the love of your kids and family ... totally real.
I want to go to there.
i love you.
I think of you sooooo often.. and to find this waiting for me on your blog about how peaceful the vaction sounded was perfect..
But did you drink the water?
I'm all teary and you have no idea how friggin' happy I am that you had the time of your lives together frolicking and playing together in the healing ocean waters which somehow always brings us back to the stuff that really matters in this life. The main reason why I love being near the ocean.....always bringing me back to the good stuff.
Your pictures are oh.my.God gorgeous and I may even be inspired to look through all 1750 of them.
I thought I was ready for summer to be over but after reading this post, I want it back.
beautiful. wonderful. gorgeous. so happy for you :)
this looks like a fabulous trip!!!
I am going to mexico in about 4 wks!!! Can't wait!!!!!
Gorgeous words.
Spectacular photographs.
Such beauty.
I exhale.