Golden Moments….

I went outside this morning to enjoy the sunshine and started feeling guilty. I have a lot of things that need to be done but, I wanted to be outside in the warmth of the sun.

I assuaged my guilt by cutting the dead blooms off the rose tree. Just two weeks ago, the tree was a profusion of tiny rose blooms and buds. Pink, of course. By cutting back the dead blooms, “deadheading” the rose tree, I will have more blooms before I know it. Cutting away the old to make room for the new…..Hmmmm.

The more I worked, the more I saw what needed to be done. More chores on top of the chores already waiting for my attention. The “pile” of things to do was growing as fast as the pile of dead blooms.

And then I became aware of the sun on my back, baking the shirt I am wearing. It felt good. It felt soothing. “Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy….” (John Denver). As if by magic, my vision was restored: I no longer saw the weeds and the areas where the grass has died, or the dead blooms on all the other plants.

I saw only green. And pink on the roses and red on the geraniums and yellow on the Dusty Miller and the sunflowers. I saw my dogs, romping and smiling and showing off for me. I saw the verdant patches of blooming shrubs and trees instead of the bare spots that are waiting for attention.

I heard children laughing and playing at the nearby elementary school, and birds singing. Or were they admonishing me to leave “their” yard alone? I heard my dog breathing hard as she ran around the yard and beckoned her to come sit in my lap and catch her breath.

And then there were two: both dogs in my lap, vying for my attention. And I became aware, as they already were, that this is the most important day and hour and minute and moment of my life…..just because it is.

So, the weeds can wait, the bills can wait, the grocery store can wait:

I’m out in the sunshine, playing with my dogs….