This morning I got up and sleepily made my way down the stairs to pour a cup of coffee. I overslept a bit- so I knew my time alone in my comfy chair would be short. I curl up, wrap my toes in the end of my robe and nestle in to read a bit of the Word.
It isn’t long before I’m forced to get up, begrudgingly, to wake the Wil-de-beast. It’s not that I don’t like him, in fact, I’m not even sure where he came from; he’s such a dreamboat and a sweetheart of a young man. It’s just that his big feet will plod around making all sorts of noise and he’ll want stuff- like food- and I know my quiet moments will be over. So, after a bit of coaxing, down he comes, dressed in his tennis shoes- ready to do his workout. He’s taller than I remember him being yesterday; he says it’s the shoes- but today he seems to bend as he kisses me on top of the head.
The Wil-de-beast likes to exercise. In fact, he thinks he may want to help others to like it as a career. He and his buddy just invested in this wild-man workout- it’s called Insanity® and it’s all I’ve been hearing about for weeks. Pretty big investment for a young guy on a limited income.
So- I decide, “Yes son- I will do this with you for as long as I can take it.” You know- mom’s-behind-yuh- kind of thing. Besides, as blessed mother, I don’t want to be really soft and fluffy- just a little soft and fluffy. Sort of a lovely Mom-de-beast figure.
He takes one look at me in my pink, flowery robe and tells me I may want to go change- I will be covered in sweat when I’m done. Oh. Sweat- hadn’t thought of that. I whip off my robe, which leaves me in my flannel jammies and plod in to the work-out space with the Wil-de-beast, careful to leave room for his sweaty, wild-man moves.
Some huge, hunk of man appears on the screen, to tell us how much he enjoys this and how- just as we are getting breathless- he is just getting started. After many moves designed to carve and sculpt my lithe and momly figure- I decide to leave the rest to the big beasts.
I jog out cheering the Wil-de-beast on. Wheew. Time to head for the showers. That was the longest 3 minutes of my life.
Can’t wait till tomorrow- after all, it’s in the little things.
edenstream.com - catherine whittier 
Woman, as always, you speak to my heart. I long for a few quiet moments with you & many cups of coffee. Keep writing!
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Thanks Kelly- your encouragement means so much. I will message you about a coffee date! Can’t wait!
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Miss Catherine, I Love your posts! You have such a special way with words, it makes my heart smile! 🙂
I’ll share my day with you. I went mowing today. I really enjoy mowing. I get to spend quiet time, lost in my thoughts, outdoors in the fresh air.
Mowing is my therapy and although it is hot, sweaty, dirty and hard work….it doesn’t require any strain on my brain.
My sweetie bought me hearing protection with am/fm stereo speakers, but I don’t use those. I prefer the plain old decible reduction set; that way I’m not destracted by anything but the low muffled hum of the mower.
I notice a lot of things while I’m out and about in other peoples lawns. The newness of springtime, the particular flowers and trees that are in bloom, the bird nest that was just built on the corner post of someones porch (I’ll check it next week for eggs!) The lone baby chicken running to keep up behind it’s mother out in a feedlot (surely, there must have been others; I wonder what happened to them?)
One of my FAVORITE places to mow is at the eccentric veterinarians office. I always look forward to seeing what new critters are wandering about. Like the Zonkey! She looks just like a donkey with pretty striped pattern long legs…She follows me along the fence and eats the fresh cut grass that blows across to her side. I tell her she would look stylish with glossy painted hooves. Or the beautiful piebald peacock that calls out in his wild and shrill song upon our arrival (I think our neighborhood needs several peafowl that wander around!).
Today there were some new faces; Wooly Cows! Just as you might imagine, these bovine beauties are covered in long and wavy fur. The hair on the tops of their heads is coifed in a long cover-the-eye style very similar to a sheep dog. It’s a wonder they can see anything! Each pass I made by the fence I called out to them; “Hey Beautiful, Who does your hair?…Love those hi-lights!”, “Hi There, Wooly-Bully!” (It was easy to get THAT song stuck in my head for a while) One wooly cow had the prettiest copper colored coat….I named her Verdigris.
All too soon, it was over, and we are done until next week. A lot changes in 7 days, the flowers on the trees might be gone and tender leaves will have sprouted in their place. The little chicken will be twice as big and won’t have to run so fast to catch up with its mother. Maybe Zonkey will get a new mate to stroll the pastures with. Perhaps peacock will show off his fireworks fantail for me!
It was such a lovely day! Everyone should take the time to jump in the stream and soak in the sweetness of life 🙂
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Thanks for sharing, Brenda. Through your words I was able to feel the breeze as I rode along on my mower 🙂 Funny, we stopped the other day to visit the “eccentric veterinarian’s office.” We didn’t have any idea what to call that crazy donkey with the striped legs;”Zonkey” is the perfect name. We have recently spotted the crazy cows with the hair-do’s. We’ll have to stop in and get a closer look.
Thanks for the reminder that each day will bring irreversible changes. Tomorrow, my Wil-de-beast will be taller and the chicken will be faster 🙂 We can’t get back the moments we allow to slip through our fingers.
We take joy in the simplest of things- but in order to do that, we have to do as you have said, “take the time to jump in the stream and soak in the sweetness of life :)” We must be intentional about our soaking. Thanks so much for sharing. Have a sweet day tomorrow!
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My Catherine…I love being near your stream. The beauty and life that eminates from it give my technical, black and white world, vivid color. I thank you for that…with out it I fear I would remain just another “machine”. I love you deeply and love to see you flow in the stream.
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My wild, Volvo man… Thanks for your unfailing love. You inspire me. Your words evoke a picture, but I can’t find you in it. I guess at work- the world is very black and white- but here at home- you are one colorful character and the more I realize my shortcomings, the more I admire your day in and day out successes. I love you.
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