Yesterday I was in this amazing place. And by place, I mean an open emotional dwelling where I saw dandelions as flowers and crows as intelligent birds and my children as funny, lovely little creatures and the world as a wonderful thing.
First of all: our garbage collector. He waited for me.
It was morning and the sun was shining and I was taking some trash to the street where our can already was. Not so much because the plastic QFC bag (knotted neatly) needed to be whisked from our house right that instant, but more so I could feel the warmth on my arms and listen to the robins.
And as our automatic garage door opened, I saw him. Our garbage collector. He stood there, halfway down our driveway, with one arm outstretched. His truck idled nearby.
I handed him my bag. And, for some reason, this tiny exchange touched me.
Then later, right after we dropped Fruit Bat at school and Kitty Cat and I were getting into our car, another mom came over and hunched, scanned the dirt around our tires. "I'm looking for something," she said.
"What is it?" I asked.
"A little black rocket thing. I don't think it's even here. But I promised my son..."
I laughed. I'd done many similar duties. Performing small favors that are mostly senseless to us adults, but vitally important to our kids. I felt, in that moment, kinship.
And several hours after that, driving with two small girls, the three of us singing in unison, "I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee" as a salty sea wind blew through our open windows.
But we had a rough night, with both kids getting up and my insomnia flaring its ugly nostrils. I'm tired today. I'm quiet and only slightly observant.
I'm nervous about the impending summer and our loss of routine and that J. is going to keep working 70+ hour weeks through August.
A little unsettled again, hoping tomorrow brings more peace.
The good and the bad. Why do they always go together so well?
Posted by: Leslie | June 12, 2009 at 02:23 PM
The garbage truck guy can make my day, too.
Have you seen Mad Men yet? You really must.
Posted by: Nora | June 12, 2009 at 02:55 PM
I think when the garbage man is kind, the entire world becomes a beautiful place.
Sorry about the insomnia. I've been struggling with it lately, too, and it doesn't help me be a very good wife or mother. *sigh*
Posted by: kcinnova | June 13, 2009 at 07:50 PM