"Coffee is a liquid hug for your brain." - Unknown
I begin my morning by brewing my favorite coffee - topping it off with steamed almond milk. Right now, I want to embrace the moment. The still of the morning. Our dogs have been given their breakfast - they return to their favorite spots.....one on the couch and the other curled up on a cozy oversized doggy pillow.
My mind rewinds - conversations I have had with teachers at school and parents. The students have been talking about Christmas, Santa and their personal Elf since the day after Halloween. Parents are already worn out. Teachers are anxiously waiting for the holiday break to arrive. Hang in there I say......only one more week.
I can [honestly] say I miss those days as a mom of three. The Friday after Thanksgiving was huge. And not for hitting the outlets. No, it was for bundling up and heading to the Christmas tree farm. The smiles on their faces. The traditional hot chocolate they insisted on having even though it was luke warm. The sap would stick to our fingers until the following day. I wouldn't have changed anything about those moments. I enjoyed having them home for the holiday vacation. My kids were always busy - ice skating, tubing or skiing. And if they weren't doing outside activities, they were glued to the Monopoly board.
I wish parents today would take a step back and embrace this moment while their children are still young. The innocence and shear delight of being a child. As a Kindergarten teacher, I see children growing up way before their time. [ before it's neccessary]
This is when my mind begins to flood with my own memories as a child. And not just during the holidays. Each season brought something so new and exciting.
I'm at the end of the Boomer generation. The youngest of three.
From my teen years to my twenties......I must honestly say we had the best music. Time. Time with friends and time with family. No phone time - no TicTok - no interrupting text messages. Selfies were taken with a Polaroid camera and if we were lucky enough......everyone made it in the picture! I loved driving to school with my friends - the windows down while Fleetwood Mac, Momma's & the Poppa's or Pat Benetar would flow from an 8-track.
I feel so lucky to have been able to experience these moments.
Not everything was perfect. But for me it was dang near - especially when I remember social interaction. We were together. Eye contact - laughing - dancing - singing. Mall trips. Pizza at Vitto's followed by a phone call to my parents, I'm ready to be picked up. And when I say phone call, that was made from a booth. Oh, how many of your gal pals could fit in a phone booth while it was pouring rain - taking turns calling our parents.
Young laughter and bellies full of pizza and [diet] Coke, these moments I wouldn't change for anything.
My children are grown - but growing up they have heard many of our stories. My youngest wishes phone booths were still "a thing". They prefer [their decision] not to have social media for personal use. I get it. I really do. Now, my dogs pictures flood my Instagram. Or an occassional cup of coffee.
I sit on the beach and capture the moment. The smell. The feel of salty air and the sand beneath my feet.
I think in my mind this all started with one thought - parents feeling overwhelmed. Wishing Christmas day would come and quickly return to your regular scheduled program routine.
My coffee is gone. I need to prepare for the day. First brunch with some gals and then A Christmas Carol performance downtown Charleston.
I'm not sure what this post was really about - but one thing I do know - I'm so glad I have these memories. I have tons more but I don't want to bore you. 😊
Enjoy a cup of coffee & take an adventure!
Lisa
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