Beauty

If I never saw another sunset would my last be enough to last a lifetime? Did I appreciate the grandeur lighting up the Western sky? The colors that are creativity with names we don't yet know, seen from seven stories high on an ordinary Wednesday. The design we cannot recreate, splayed right outside the gate on a summer night.

What of the sounds that create a beautiful melody? The waves strung together by the conductor of the wind to bring music in the afternoon sun.

Lying on my back, the sounds of life drifting unhindered while the light of warmth teases through the leaves of the melancholy.

And what of the stranger who held the door or the child who cleaned without being asked?

And what of the kids playing unashamed with nary a care as the imaginations lead to the world of make believe?

What of the friend who calls out of the blue and the desire to pursue what could be in a different society?

And what of the love freely given with nothing expected in return?

What is this said and what could this be?

The only word could be beauty.

Beauty in the expected and the unexpected.

Beauty in the things we have yet to understand and understanding in the things we have yet to call beauty.

Beauty in the life and the laugh, in the tears and the sorrow.

Beauty in the then and the now and the soon to be.

Beauty in and around and through.

Beauty

Sunday Letters

Dear Week, you have been insane and have barely offered me enough room to breathe. Lets try to slow down this week, okay? Dear Cousins, You have kept us thoroughly entertained lately with your antics and energy. Dear Pioneer Land, Next time lets try to keep the bees out of the water slides. Being stung in the Black Hole is not my idea of fun. Dear Cedar Point, Get ready, we are coming to attack on Tuesday. Dear BK, Sorry my life has been crazy all week and will be next week too. Thanks for your patience. Dear Nashville, I am liking the idea of moving to you so maybe you should find me a job there. Dear Bed, Nap time.

Peace.

Sunday Letters

Dear Back Deck, you have now been extended. Enjoy your new freedom and revel in the glory of giving me a lovely bruise and knot on my leg. Dear Rooms, your challenge for the week is simply brilliant. You already have me opening my eyes wider and throwing words together effortlessly. Dear Cousins, welcome to the OH. We hope you enjoy your stay with us. We have emergency exits here, there, and through the back. Dear Endless Job Applications, it would be nice it one you would turn up a job. Dear Blueberry Cobbler/Pie, I have never enjoyed you before but tonight you were actually quite good. Dear Right Foot, take care not to cramp up in the middle of the night again. Waking up because of you is not enjoyable or comfortable. Dear Week, be good.

Peace.

Sunday Letters

Dear Little Sebago, you were beautiful and brutal this week. I have the bruises and memories to prove it. Dear Lake House, sometimes we had far too many people in you. In fact, my bedroom just became a bed instead of a room since it was wall to wall beds. Dear Tennessee, after your convincing phone call I may just move down there with you. At the very least we need too see each other soon. Dear Best Friend, so pumped to share vacation stories and pictures with you. Dear Self, figure out where you are living next. Dear Jeff (or Fej), sorry my cousin stole your name tag and special license card in Wal Mart. I hope you still know who you are without your name tag.

Peace.

Sunday Letters

Dear Sam, I don't mind if you dance through the aisles in Wal Mart, just please try to dance in the direction we are heading. Dear Kid, last night you were snoring really loud. Instead of throwing something at you, I just went back to sleep. Dear bedroom, when over 75% of you is wall to wall beds, you cease being a bedroom and are now lovingly referred to as bed. Dear Best Friend, one word-cruise, two words- have a blast (okay thats three words)! Dear lake, one afternoon out and I have already had both elbows and one lip bleeding. I would say it was pretty successful. Dear Sequoia, you are now my favorite family car. You know why. Dear head, lets try to make this a pleasant week without any headaches.

Peace.

Sunday Letters

Dear body, you have picked a very bad time to get sick. Dear waterslides at PWL, today you gave me the roller coaster stomach drop feeling. I liked it a lot. Dear kids, I loved hearing about SC tonight at dinner. You both amaze me. Dear Tennessee, talking with you tonight was wonderful. Thanks for sharing in the ups and downs of both of our lives. Dear BK, I don't blame you for leaving tonight when the schoolwork made an appearance. Dear grad school, here we go, 10 more weeks in the trenches. Dear Best Friend, spending yesterday texting about "So You Think You Can Dance" quite possibly made my day. I think I will keep you around for a little bit longer. Dear Maine, I am pumped.

Peace.

Sunday Letters

Dear tube, I have tube burns from you. Dear pretty pretty wakeboard, sorry I had a bad run yesterday, maybe tomorrow will better. It was my fault and not yours. Dear West Branch, you were super busy today and made me a bit nervous at times. Dear arms, stop being sore from moving rocks, tearing down structures and ripping apart jungles. Sorry you took a beating yesterday. Dear last week of break, please go by slowly. Extremely slowly. Dear kids, today you left for your first missions trip and I am beyond excited for you. You two make me quite proud. Dear sugar ants, thanks for not following us back to the OH from Vieques. Dear best friend, we should talk soon. I have some things you would be interested in knowing. Dear mama, your chocolate mousse was a-ma-zing. Dear self, go to sleep. You need a nap.

Peace.