alone for a little while today, i sat collecting my thoughts and (being me) making lists. i heard a strange sound. listening carefully, i finally realized it was the clock the litigator gave me 2 years ago for mother's day.  i'm not sure that i knew it made a 'tick' sound as it counted the minutes. it was a little strange to think that it's been so long since i heard it that i didn't recognize it. it was like being in someone else's house for a few minutes. someday i'll just sit and listen to that tick and wish i could listen to something else.
like someone running the shower and
the springs of the trampoline and
the crash of matchbox against each other and
the white noise of fans for a sleeping baby and
someone playing legos in the front room at ridiculous o'clock in the morning and
the distant but all too clear off key humming of a favorite song and
the crushed ice flying out of the fridge door and
someone opening the cupboards for treats (a small but distinct sound) and
the feet tramping up and down the hall and
the garage door banging shut and
giggles and stories from the bedroom late at night and
the squeak of the cupboard in the laundry room where flashlights are kept and
the horrible repetitive noise of any electronic game and
the screams and howls which MUST indicate severe injury in the back yard and
the open mouths chewing at dinner and
the little baby voice singing popcorn and
the bang of the washer or dryer door as someone searches for clothes and
the squeak of the bunkbeds as someone gets up (again) to use the bathroom and
6 voices singing 'backyardigans' and
life as i know it
(and honestly cannot begin to imagine anything else)