So, my kid and I had a MOMENT. And we decided to both write about it to see how we saw it differently. Things are always seen differently – experienced differently, remembered differently. I thought I’d share our memories here so that you can see the differences (and similarities)…
First me:
Would the world always look better through squinted eyes (and tears)?
I’m standing next to my kid, looking out over the Mediterranean Sea, squinting my eyes to make the sunshine sparkling on the water look like Christmas lights, crying. It’s the last morning of our four-week family trip. The trip to end all trips. Four weeks together, touring a bit of Morocco and traveling through Spain. My favorite part of the trip? Four weeks of family dinners and maybe this moment.
My kid is in the midst of their college cross-country training, and I won’t let them run alone in foreign countries. So somehow I’m in the midst of college cross-country training as well. Who cares that I’m not really a runner and that I’m almost fifty? I’ll be ready for my first varsity race at the rate I’m going. Ready to lose, to be honest, but still ready.
We stopped halfway through our five-mile run so I could say goodbye to the beach. I like saying goodbye to the beach whenever I leave and lucky for me, halfway through was an overlook with a gorgeous view. I meant to stop for a few minutes, so as not to interrupt my kid’s workout, but they let us stand there for what seemed like ages.
The view was intoxicating, especially when we squinted. Squinting made the sunshine sparkles even more magical – truly like dazzling, twinkling lights on the sea. I took in the moment – the view, the run, the four weeks of amazing family time, the sights and experiences we’d seen and had, and my kid. I thought, again, of how lucky I am to have both my kids and to have the relationship I have with both my kids. I began to cry.
I looked over at my kid, standing next to me, and they realized I was crying. Not surprising – they know I cry when I’m overcome with joy. I held their hand. “How did I get so lucky?” I asked them. “It’s not luck,” they answered. “You did this. You worked for this. You so deserve this.” I cried harder.
I squinted again to see the magical twinkling lights. I stared out at the sea and held my kid close to me to memorize the moment. I allowed myself to feel the bliss surging through me, to embrace it and ride it to the sense of immense, intense appreciation. To acknowledge how blessed I am.
How did I get so lucky? I think that so often. I could find things to complain about. I could tell you what’s wrong with my life and what (and who) is currently frustrating me. But the reality is I’m blessed. Whether you think it’s a gift or that I’ve earned it, I’m blessed.
I’m blessed with a kid who wants to be with me, even though they’re a teenager, leaving for college in the fall. I’m blessed with a family that I adore. I’m blessed with a life of amazing experiences and spectacular people. I’m blessed with the gift of mothering my children. (And I might even acknowledge that I generally think I’m a pretty okay mother. I do know I love the job and it’s my favorite job. Writing, I think, comes next.) And I’m blessed with the ability to squint my eyes when necessary to make the view even better.
We stood for what seemed like forever, and also seemed like never long enough, enjoying the view and each other (and the break from the run). Then we headed back.
Then them:
She taught me to see the sparkles in life
It is our last day in Ibiza and my beloved cross-country training schedule calls for a five-mile run, relaxed pace. My mom and I jog slowly, reflecting on our trip. On the time spent as a family, the sheer length of the vacation, and our runs together. On how terrified she was the first time we ran a five-mile “long run” in the heat – and now that’s our easy day. She’s run just about every day this week, going out alone on the days my dad trained with me. (Consider this a little plug for my mother and her incredible dedication to everything, even when suffering from a stomach bug caused by some obnoxious Spanish bacteria. She’s not going to brag sufficiently about herself on this blog, so I thought I ought to add that.)
Anyway, we take some unexpected turns and eventually come to our halfway point, at the end of a dead-end road with a sudden, incredible view of the ocean.
“Reverse!” I say, but she stops me.
“Can we pause for a minute and say goodbye to the beach, in case I don’t get to say goodbye later?”
She had planned on walking to the beach for a last farewell before we left for the airport, but there probably won’t be time, so of course we stop here. Since I was a kid, my mom has taken every opportunity to teach me to appreciate life. I trust her judgment – if she thinks I’ll remember this trip and beautiful location better for having “said goodbye” to the beach, it’s probably true. (And, indeed, I did. Her reminders to notice and appreciate things always end up being so, so right. Or as she would say, is there really a wrong time to appreciate life?)
So we stop, lean on the wooden fence, and stare at the ocean. It’s gorgeous and endless, and it’s crashing on these big jagged black rocks that stick up like misplaced bits of coastline. And she says something to me – which I will admit, at the risk of sounding like a bad kid who shouldn’t have agreed to write half the blog post, that I don’t exactly remember – which leads to us talking about us, our relationship, who we both are, the ways in which her childhood changed how she mothers me. I’m touched, and she’s tearing up, and we stand there in silence for a minute before she says, “look at the reflection of the sun on the water. Maybe it’s just because it’s blurry when my eyes are teary and I don’t have my glasses on, but look how pretty it is.” It is indeed pretty – there are few things more beautiful than sunlight sparkling on a rippling ocean – but then I squint my eyes to see it blurry, and it’s otherworldly, and kind of weird.
“When you squint it just looks like a bunch of giant shiny sparkles bouncing around,” I say. She squints, and is ridiculously excited by the sparkles, which makes us both burst out laughing, standing there sweaty by the fence that marks the edge of the beach, relishing all of these four weeks but especially this powerful, sweet, beautiful, sparkly, nostalgic moment together.
Eventually she admits that although she could talk with me and farewell the sparkling blurry beach forever, we probably ought to go home and pack. We head back, a leisurely jog made more so by the five-minute uphill near our house and by the quietly happy conversation we continue the whole route back. It is, thanks to my mother, the most peaceful and meaningful run – and stretch break – I’ve had all summer. As she’s taught me over the years, it’s those little moments, if you can learn to appreciate them, which really count.
Which do you think is “true?”
Which is true? Are you all kidding?!!?? BOTH, my Lovely Ladies!
Both…. and I LOVE you BOTH TOO!
When we are fortunate enough to be created in love by two people who are dedicated to that love, that is heaven’s purpose fulfilled.
A family predicated on love, focused on growing that love and dedicated to understanding how to share love, is a microcosm of how the world should be.
All four realms of God’s great heart are found within your kind of family. Conjugal love which is the only love that is exclusive between mom and dad. Then Parent/Child love, Child/Parent love and Sibling love all three meant to be expanded freely as you learn your place in society.
It is a family like yours that becomes an example to all families because, the thing you have created is True Love which goes on forever.
All I can say; in a world that teaches self centric lifestyles, Well done.
And all I can say is Thank you!
Lovely ladies! Both are true and truly beautiful (as are both of you)! I got a little teary reading your posts. We do the hard work, but there is that ingredient of luck/magic and blessing that allows us to marvel at the fruits if our labor.
Thank all for the luck/magic and blessing – and the fruits of our labor! xo
So happy for you both that you had the opportunity to experience that together and that you then had the generosity to share it as well.