Saying grace
Posted on | May 25, 2006 |
Gratitude that the rain has stopped, at least for now. That sun, hot and bright, is pouring down on the fields of dandelions and lilac hedgerows. That my body, sore as it is, allows me to do this: to keep these hours, to tile, to rip out the ugly bathroom vanity upstairs plying it with a sledge hammer and crowbar, delicately so as not to destroy the wall. That my inlaws have been here all week, caring for Bean, making meals, helping to paint.
Gratitude at looking up and seeing a bowl full of dark ink and stars spilled out across the heavens.
Gratitude at driving the washboard bumpy road to the house and seeing a fox slink into the high grass almost every evening, a wisp of orange, a fleeting hint of wildness.
Gratitude standing under the apple trees and hearing the hum of a thousand bees, the air pulsing with their honey-gathering vibrations.
Gratitude that today we start flooring, and that when the inlaws leave my dearest friend and her boyfriend are coming to help us move.
So much to be thankful for, even now when every muscle in my body aches. When my head zings from lack of sleep. When, as I type, I can feel tenderness in all the tiny ligaments in my wrists and fingers.
This process is something like labor: there is no alternate way out. We must simply make do. Confronting each day and moment with everything we can give, and trusting we’ll get there. Now, only a handful of days.
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15 Responses to “Saying grace”
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May 25th, 2006 @ 11:47 am
I had a dream last night that Madonna quoted you in an article and all your paintings flew off the shelf. It was crazy. Just thought I would share.
May 25th, 2006 @ 11:49 am
“a bowl full of dark ink and stars spilled out across the heavens” - wonderful; I’m writing that down so I’ll remember it.
May 25th, 2006 @ 12:29 pm
You anchor yourself so well in the moment, enlarging your soul and making yourself, thereby, capable of such easy sharing.
May 25th, 2006 @ 3:00 pm
Beautiful! Hopefully, like labor, the anguish of this time will be forgotten, replaced by the birth of a newly refinished home and a new life in it.
May 25th, 2006 @ 4:24 pm
lovely and inspiring
May 25th, 2006 @ 7:13 pm
how wonderful to have a loving family and friends to help you get thru this. and how exciting to see the fruits of your labor, to know that you and dh have made this house truly yours. i’m excited for your move and for this time to be passed.
May 25th, 2006 @ 10:12 pm
thank you for blessing us with the beauty of your spirit
May 26th, 2006 @ 2:04 pm
Ahh.. I remember when I was 8 months pregnant, watched a birth video, and asked Mark: “Is there any other way to give birth? Maybe through my mouth?” Mark said: “We kind of have no choice at this point. We are almost there.” And I felt the same way when we were moving into our new homes - both times were stressful but we just had to go through with the moves. If you have a bathroom, and a place to put the bed down, that is all you’d need to move in. There’s always an alternative that appears when you need food - kitchen does not have to be done-done when you move in. You’ll probably enjoy finishing up once you are moved in.
May 26th, 2006 @ 2:08 pm
I love this painting.
May 26th, 2006 @ 3:18 pm
I love that your painting with this post is a fish. They just keep swimming no matter what…
May 26th, 2006 @ 6:54 pm
This is one of my favorite fish paintings of yours. This guy looks like he has a sense of humor.
So glad to hear you’ve had help all week (I was a little concerned for ya’ll doing it all alone!) and that your big move is almost here! How precious indeed will be every tile and fixture that you’ve worked so hard for.
And a fox! Now that’s a good omen.
May 26th, 2006 @ 10:40 pm
Oh. Lovely, lovely words. You bring me back to my young days in MN … the lilacs and the fox. Love this post.
May 27th, 2006 @ 9:15 am
Love the painting, Christina…it reminds me of home…the glory of fresh fish, typically caught in the rain.
Glad to hear you’ve got help…and a close friend by your side as you make this transition is always a good thing. As tired as you are, it sounds like a ‘good’ tired…like your soul’s getting the workout IT needs, too. Here’s to a smooth move.
May 30th, 2006 @ 11:36 am
wonderful watercolor!! !
June 6th, 2006 @ 5:03 am
I loved this, thanks for reminding me.
Good luck with everything.