A Few Minutes In May
And it’s May, and the snow has melted from the flurry that came this morning. And even though it’s dusk the birds are acting like they’ve just woken up, bathing themselves in what’s left of the snow in little puddles around the neighborhood. I can see this because I’ve excused myself from my 3 children, and with my 11 y/o firmly in charge of the household for a predetermined 7 minutes and 30 seconds, which has been set using the kitchen timer, I’m allowed singular use of the trampoline, and some time for introspection. And I have my music and I’m bouncing lightly, scanning the neighborhood in the mini-valley behind our house.
Then I stop, and lay down, and look up at the sky. And it’s mostly sunny, but there are tiny flakes of snow still visible against the green of the pine overhead. Some land directly in my eye. To the east, where the mountains are, the snow is falling much harder than it is here. And there is a chill, but it’s not chilly. A breeze, but not windy. And I’m by myself, but not alone. And tonight’s thoughts cover me like a warm blanket.
And even though my mind drifts about, I know my time is almost up. All the difficulties of the day have evaporated from the forefront of my thoughts, and that’s all it takes, it’s really quite simple. Most of the time it’s much more elusive. But it’s really all I need. And the one thing I seem to rarely get. So I’ll take it in small doses, especially when life presents a situation where I can control my time by preventing others from doing so. And despite the monotony and the drudgery of a less than normal day, I know I’ll fall asleep feeling a little better, and all it takes is seven and a half minutes. Some days it takes more, but not today.
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Comments
Hey you Butch - its been a long time. You might not remember me, but I lived across the street from you on Walker Lane…hung around with your big bro Jon quite a bit for a few years. Anyway, for some reason I remembered that May 8th is Jon’s birthday, so I decided to google him and see if I could find anything. Unfortunately, nothing. But holy cow, I google Brian Utley and my computer nearly explodes. Who’d have thought that Jon’s dorky little bro would become such a renaissance man. Looks like you live a happy life with a great family - well done. I’ve got a pretty good set-up myself with three kids (another on the way) and the hottest wife around. Say hey to Jonathan Thad for me. Tell him Keith wished him a happy birthday.
P.S. - I always thought your sister Barbie was a hottie. And if you talk to big Dennis, SueAnn, Debbie or JoAnne, tell them hello from me as well.
What up Mr. Elison? How could I forget? Especially the open fist to the face I received in late ‘85. 
Where you at these days?
Interesting, isn’t it…how, amidst all the chaos — where simplicity *must* be impossible — it is really just right there? An inch in front of our face, or just on the horizon, or in the breeze? Now, why is it ever so difficult to remember this when I really know it all the time!? Great post.