It was a blistering hot day in July. A few friends and I were out rummage-saling for furniture. I had just moved to Utah. The living room was bare the bank account was too, so rummage-saling was the absolute only option. It had been a few hours and a few cheap buys before I spotted him - abandoned on the side of a dead-end street, dirty-white in color, saggy from the heat of the Utah sun, and smelly. It wasn't his appearance which caught my attention but rather the gigantic sign he held in his arms which read, FREE in bright-red letters. We stopped, took a look for creepy crawlies, had a seat...and whoa! This chair was perfect. Dirty and old as it was, after one sit I was in love. I couldn't let a poor neglected, over-stuffed, comfy spot go to waste. Ten minutes later, Old Stuffy found a new home in the truck bed. Once home, after a good shampoo and disposal of a few cushions, that old stuffy chair found a perfect place in my living room. Today, it's the spot from which I write to you.
Remember I once mentioned writing is therapeutic? Today is one of those nights I am writing only to write. Why not write about an over-stuffed chair which has given me so many comfortable moments in these last nine months? You're right, there is no reason not to. I will.
This chair is more than a just a chair for sitting. It serves many purposes all of which include, but are not limited to: lounging, dining, working, writing, chatting, paying bills, contemplating life, texting, facebooking, sipping tea, reading the funnies, and the ever so popular sport of napping. Yet, with all these uses, this chair serves an even greater purpose in my life these days. Many times, this chair has served as a hug. Now, don't start feeling sorry for me. Just listen and you'll understand.
This chair has huge arms. I can curl all the way up in its pillows and surround myself with its warmth. Unlike a person, this chair has never-ever let me down. It has supported my weight and my many, many, meals of spaghetti, without a single complaint. Never have I gone in for a sit and been rejected. When I come home after a long day, exhausted and ready for a place to rest, this chair is waiting for me with open arms. On rainy Saturday mornings, I enjoy lounging with this chair, sipping tea and quietly thinking, the chair thinks with me. When I argue with the chair, I always win. When I talk to the chair, the chair doesn't give unwanted advice. When I ask the chair life altering questions, the chair silently lets me know I shouldn't worry. I love this chair...and I think this chair loves me too.
Of course, a chair is no substitute for the human hug. I hate to write it, (and please don't tell my chair) but in the sad event I'd get rid of the chair or the chair became stolen or lost, I would not be too heart-broken. So, really whatever feelings I have for this chair are, in actuality, very minuscule compared to my feelings for the many people and passions in my life. At this very moment, however, I find this chair and my place in it to be the very best possible place I could be on this earth. Curled up, cuddly, warm, happy and safe, in the hugging arms of my Big-White-Over-Stuffed-Free chair.
Do you have such a "chair" in your life, dear Void? It is my hope you do. For, for anyone to go through life without a place to feel such warmth, would be a very sad life indeed.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
No time to write.
7:11 AM Wake up. Take a walk.
7:32 AM See an older man walking his dog, think about writing about being dogless.
7:47 AM Return home for tea and an egg sandwich. Make coffee.
7:56 AM Finish breakfast, think about writing about breakfasts.
7:57 AM Start an episode of "How I Met Your Mother," think about writing about On Demand television. Also think about changing cable plan.
8:20 AM Shower, get dressed, do hair, get coffee, write offering check, grab Bible. Think about writing about rushing.
9:12 AM Check mailbox, start car, read mail, drive to church, sing in the car. Think about wirting about Salt Lake City drivers.
9:27 AM Arrive at church, greet friends, sit down to Bible Class just on time, engulf self in Romans, chapter 3. Think about writing about unrighteousness.
10:35 AM End Bible Class, talk to a parent, chat with a prospect parent, smile at a new-comer, sit down next to friends in worship.
10:47 AM Think about writing about what it must be like to be a parent in a church service.
Noonish Stroll out of church in conversation, congratulate and welcome newly baptized family, chat and laugh with church-goers, wish "Happy Mother's Day." Make plans for lunch with friends.
1:33 PM Leave for lunch with friends, end up at The Training Table, order the Guac burger. Decide to write about fast food.
2:59 PM Return from lunch with friends, call Mom to sing, "Happy Mama's Day, To You!" Leave a message.
3:14 PM Home. Re-heat coffee, enjoy with my Bar Harbor moose mug. Gaze at the falling rain. Listen to the rain. Soak in my coffee. Think about writing about coffee.
3:17 PM Realize I have stuff to do. Pay some bills, organize finances, research insurance, figure out life.
6:22 PM Think about writing about organizing my life.
6:23 PM Call Mom back. Tell her "Happy Mother's Day!" Talk about how I spent all day organizing my life. Ask her advice about my life. Talk more about what I've discovered about my life today.
7:23 PM "Oh, how are you, Mom? I haven't even asked about you yet."
7:25 PM Mom has to go...Dad made her dinner.
7:25 PM Think about writing about how great Moms are.
7:27 PM Get writer's block.
7:32 PM Facebook. Putz on computer. Organize life more. Sort laundry.
8:55 PM Realize hunger. Drink water, begin school work.
9:00 PM Stop to check Facebook.
10:43 PM You really need to write about Facebook addiction.
10:44 PM Close the computer, re-begin school work.
11:32 PM Pack school bag, make lunch, prep coffee, set alarm for 5AM, brush teeth, floss, wash face.
11:43 PM Think about researching skin acne treatments.
11:44 PM Lay down to write before bed.
11:45 PM Research skin acne treatments.
12:02 AM Still not tired. Acne is gross to write about. Play some electronic Scrabble.
12:15 AM Lose electronic Scrabble.
12:34 AM Winner!
12:35 AM Too tired to write about the sensation that is Scrabble. Skim TIME's Special Report about how Osama Bin Ladin is dead.
12:55 AM Yawn. Time to sleep. Writing will wait.
1:11 AM Mind will not sleep. It's been over a week since you wrote. Void misses you. You miss Void.
1:26 AM Finish rediculous entry.
1:27 AM Post.
1:28 AM ZZZZzzzzz......
7:32 AM See an older man walking his dog, think about writing about being dogless.
7:47 AM Return home for tea and an egg sandwich. Make coffee.
7:56 AM Finish breakfast, think about writing about breakfasts.
7:57 AM Start an episode of "How I Met Your Mother," think about writing about On Demand television. Also think about changing cable plan.
8:20 AM Shower, get dressed, do hair, get coffee, write offering check, grab Bible. Think about writing about rushing.
9:12 AM Check mailbox, start car, read mail, drive to church, sing in the car. Think about wirting about Salt Lake City drivers.
9:27 AM Arrive at church, greet friends, sit down to Bible Class just on time, engulf self in Romans, chapter 3. Think about writing about unrighteousness.
10:35 AM End Bible Class, talk to a parent, chat with a prospect parent, smile at a new-comer, sit down next to friends in worship.
10:47 AM Think about writing about what it must be like to be a parent in a church service.
Noonish Stroll out of church in conversation, congratulate and welcome newly baptized family, chat and laugh with church-goers, wish "Happy Mother's Day." Make plans for lunch with friends.
1:33 PM Leave for lunch with friends, end up at The Training Table, order the Guac burger. Decide to write about fast food.
2:59 PM Return from lunch with friends, call Mom to sing, "Happy Mama's Day, To You!" Leave a message.
3:14 PM Home. Re-heat coffee, enjoy with my Bar Harbor moose mug. Gaze at the falling rain. Listen to the rain. Soak in my coffee. Think about writing about coffee.
3:17 PM Realize I have stuff to do. Pay some bills, organize finances, research insurance, figure out life.
6:22 PM Think about writing about organizing my life.
6:23 PM Call Mom back. Tell her "Happy Mother's Day!" Talk about how I spent all day organizing my life. Ask her advice about my life. Talk more about what I've discovered about my life today.
7:23 PM "Oh, how are you, Mom? I haven't even asked about you yet."
7:25 PM Mom has to go...Dad made her dinner.
7:25 PM Think about writing about how great Moms are.
7:27 PM Get writer's block.
7:32 PM Facebook. Putz on computer. Organize life more. Sort laundry.
8:55 PM Realize hunger. Drink water, begin school work.
9:00 PM Stop to check Facebook.
10:43 PM You really need to write about Facebook addiction.
10:44 PM Close the computer, re-begin school work.
11:32 PM Pack school bag, make lunch, prep coffee, set alarm for 5AM, brush teeth, floss, wash face.
11:43 PM Think about researching skin acne treatments.
11:44 PM Lay down to write before bed.
11:45 PM Research skin acne treatments.
12:02 AM Still not tired. Acne is gross to write about. Play some electronic Scrabble.
12:15 AM Lose electronic Scrabble.
12:34 AM Winner!
12:35 AM Too tired to write about the sensation that is Scrabble. Skim TIME's Special Report about how Osama Bin Ladin is dead.
12:55 AM Yawn. Time to sleep. Writing will wait.
1:11 AM Mind will not sleep. It's been over a week since you wrote. Void misses you. You miss Void.
1:26 AM Finish rediculous entry.
1:27 AM Post.
1:28 AM ZZZZzzzzz......
Monday, May 2, 2011
in these 15 minutes
On Mondays I like to get to school extremely early. I take that back. To some it may seem extremely early, but I enjoy a good early, relaxing morning. There is something special about the freshness of a new day which causes my brain to work more efficiently. Even in college I found proofing and finalizing a paper in the early morning hours, was much more effective than pinching myself to stay awake late into the night.
This Monday I walked in the building at my usual 6:30 AM and began the tasks of the day. I made copies, set out worksheets, straighted the classroom from Friday's craziness, prepared my Bible lesson for the morning...and Wha-lah! It's 7:35 and I'm ready for the day. I've got 15 minutes to reflect before faculty devotion.
I smile as I gaze out the one window in my classroom and see the sun shining in a perfect, cloudless sky. Today is going to be a great day. I'm calm as I contemplate the excitement which will envelope 14 little faces as they enter the classroom this morning. My heart jumps a little as I think of the many opportunities I will have to be part of their lives today. I anticipate the frustrations and the joys. In these 15 minutes I find myself taking time to say a prayer. I take 15 minutes to talk to my Lord and I know He is listening.
In my prayer I take time to say thank-you. Thank-you for this day. Thank-you for this sunshine. Thank-you for all the blessings in my life. 15 minutes is a lot of time to think about how blessed I am. I have a roof over my head, a job I love, a beautiful state to live in, fabulous friends who care, a family that loves me, and above all, a Savior, who will never leave me. Thank-you Jesus, for this day. Thank-you Jesus, for these 15 minutes.
This Monday I walked in the building at my usual 6:30 AM and began the tasks of the day. I made copies, set out worksheets, straighted the classroom from Friday's craziness, prepared my Bible lesson for the morning...and Wha-lah! It's 7:35 and I'm ready for the day. I've got 15 minutes to reflect before faculty devotion.
I smile as I gaze out the one window in my classroom and see the sun shining in a perfect, cloudless sky. Today is going to be a great day. I'm calm as I contemplate the excitement which will envelope 14 little faces as they enter the classroom this morning. My heart jumps a little as I think of the many opportunities I will have to be part of their lives today. I anticipate the frustrations and the joys. In these 15 minutes I find myself taking time to say a prayer. I take 15 minutes to talk to my Lord and I know He is listening.
In my prayer I take time to say thank-you. Thank-you for this day. Thank-you for this sunshine. Thank-you for all the blessings in my life. 15 minutes is a lot of time to think about how blessed I am. I have a roof over my head, a job I love, a beautiful state to live in, fabulous friends who care, a family that loves me, and above all, a Savior, who will never leave me. Thank-you Jesus, for this day. Thank-you Jesus, for these 15 minutes.
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