Surprise

 

E threw ML a surprise party yesterday and it was a success. It's hard to believe 18 years have gone by. And yet, of course they have. It feels like we have always been here. Or not always - that we were meant to end up here. The impression of time is a strange thing.

As we drove ML's friends home we saw a stunning sunset over the sound.pink and purple clouds and a sky washed in blazing gold. The water reflected it all, and in the distance the mountains were sharp in angles but a soft dusty blue in color. We saw people turning off the road to watch the sunset. On couple was on their car's roof, embracing, faces turned to the golden west. It was something to see.

Today is ML's the actual birthday so we will celebrate after church. Part of our family's birthday tradition is that each kid gets to pick a movie to watch on their birthday and ML chose Life is Beautiful. I don't think I could watch that film too many times. It is excellent.

*****

A poem a day

Sabbath Poem 10. 1979, Wendell Berry

Whatever is foreseen in joy

Must be lived out from day to day.

Vision held open in the dark

By our ten thousand days of work.

Harvest will fill the barn; for that

The hand must ache, the face must sweat.

And yet no leaf or grain is filled

By work of ours; the field is tilled

And left to grace. That we may reap,

Great work is done while we’re asleep.

When we work well, a Sabbath mood

Rests on our day, and finds it good.