Time Well Spent

May you live all the days of your life. ~ Jonathan Swift




I looked around. The floor needed to be mopped, the house needed straightening, there was a pile composed of three days' mail that needed sorting and there was an assortment of laundry that needed to be folded and ironed. (I am completely sure the laundry holds staff meetings after we all go to sleep deciding how it can look more daunting the next day than it does this day - does it fluff itself into those piles or what?) I had an extra day this week due to a student's vacation, but I was battling a sinus infection/flu thing and there was lots to be done at home. And then I glanced into the family room, both girls were gathered at the window staring at a bird that was dangling itself precariously close to the house. It was a gorgeous day, cold, very cold, but no wind and the sun was as bright as I have seen in a while. Emily was muttering something about springtime.

And so, without as much as a second thought to all the things that should have been done, I knew what needed to be done. Emily has a favorite park, people bring their dogs there to walk and it has a fun playground. I quickly gathered hats and coats, stood in the doorway and announced we'd be going for a ride to the park. The entire sentence had not left my lips and Emily had her boots in hand. I had even picked her up early from school that day in hopes of some fun girltime that afternoon while Hannah napped, but I realized in the nick of time that we'd have more fun in the fresh air, all three of us, than staring at the same four walls.

The playground was covered with snow, so we agreed on a long walk through the horse trails. We met four dogs (and their people), fed six ducks, said "hi" to anyone and everyone who passed our way and even caught a glimpse of an experienced rider on her horse way out in a meadow, it was beautiful.

Some of my to-do list still waits to be done. It's okay; someday they will be off doing their own thing and not have time for afternoons in the park. Emily continues to talk about "Ace the dog" who licked her hand and Hannah challenges her zeal with a very loud, "Ewwwww, yuck." They high five one another and giggle, giggle, giggle. My love affair with the washing machine, mop and vacuum doesn't stand a chance:)