My hair was tousled and askew this morning, my pajamas a pair of soft cotton bottoms and long sleeve t-shirt. I saw my oldest son in the hallway, he wished me a happy birthday. Yay.. it wasn't something I was even thinking of. My son in college came thumping up the stairs right after that, saying, Happy Birthday, Ma.. and my daughter followed. My oldest son's girlfriend came in the hallway and wished me the same.
We chitchatted and laughed, as I got birthday hugs and the kids told me the plans they'd made for me. I babbled something about taking a shower to wash off the old year and be squeaky clean for the new one.
Then a moment happened. One of those moments that freezes time and imprints itself in the brain. The oldest made an arm gesture of direction toward the shower, the second son made a gracious courteous statement, and the youngest stood there with her sweet smile
How do I describe what I saw with that threesome. Both sons on either side of the bedroom door, my daughter at the top of the stairs.. each stance reflecting their own unique disposition. The oldest straight and direct, his wry smile and twinkle of eye. The middle, oh so tall and endearing, wearing his heart in his eyes with all the right words. The youngest, the only girl, growing too tall for her skin, long and thin, a heartfelt smile with tousled curls in a sloppy bun glowing in the presence of her older brothers.
The three of them together became a life image that will stay in my head, my heart touching me to the core. I just stood and watched. I'm sure I babbled so I could keep looking and lengthen transcendent experience.
We. were. together. Love, Laughter, Togetherness. Complete. The perfect gift.
