Our family is coming off the joyful stress of planning a family reunion, A.'s side, where each family takes their turn. This year was ours. We'd been planning since October. Given five elders' deaths in less than two years, it was an opportunity to celebrate connection in the moment.
When we returned to northern Virginia, I noticed that one plant by our front door in particular
had grown so much in nine days -- creeping along the concrete step. And the native tree we planted in memory of our loved ones has started to flower.
And today, our teen daughter turns fourteen years young. We are deep in the throes of teendom. August just began, and yet it feels like it's wrapping up at the same time.
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how do we say no to the rush,
no to the push to put on our best face,
no to the chase of the material rat race
how do we say yes to penning that poesy
that stirs in our hearts,
yes to crooning the melody that allows us
to yearn and breathe in the moment
sometimes the summer storm
takes over our minds
but what if, just what if,
we take the time to taste the flavor
of the fading summer
the peanutbutter frozen custard
on the boardwalk,
how the Jersey Shore's waves
crash against our bodies,
how we have delighted in an eight-hour day
together on the sand
how in being intentional with our time
we have reconnected in love
grateful to be family
