Adi lay snuggled under the soft layers of blankets in our bed, finally sleeping soundly after a fretful night, plagued by a stuffy nose. Waiting until the last possible second, I roused her gently, not sure which Adi would emerge from this slumber. It’s always a crapshoot, even after a good night sleep.
“How are you feeling?” I dared as she sat up, still enveloped in blankets.
She just gazed up at me with her big brown eyes. I knew not to push any further.
“Quick, I’ll help you get dressed,” I said working hard to balance the pleasantness of my voice and the urgency of time. A lot rides on how quickly everyone gets ready and out the door in the morning.
She didn’t protest, just sitting in the warmth of the blankets. I pulled her pajamas over her head and quickly pulled an undershirt and sweater, a knitted blue number with soft pink stripes, over her head. I noticed myself holding my breath as I waited for Adi to complain that the sweater was cold, or itchy, or something. I finally exhaled as I helped her into her pants, without incident.
Later, when Adi finally emerged from the cocoon of the covers, I noted how the hem of her undershirt peeked out from the bottom of her sweater. How when she reached to get her coat from the hook, her sweater lifted to reveal her stomach.
The sweater, that once swam on her three year old frame, reminded me today, on her four year old body, to hold onto these moments.
Where There Is Joy 
This is so poignant. I just love the image of the undershirt and her little tummy peeking out from under the now too small sweater.
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How vivid are these images, and how piercing their truth. My boys are grown. Yesterday I hung their portraits in the living room – a pair made when they were seven and another of their senior year. No better advice than to hold onto these sweet moments. They go so hauntingly fast.
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This is beautifully crafted. I was holding my breath with you throughout the piece and then was left with a mixture of loss, hope, and vulnerability. We are always moving so quickly, focused on the next thing, that we can miss was is literally racing by us. This is a beautiful snapshot: Later, when Adi finally emerged from the cocoon of the covers, I noted how the hem of her undershirt peeked out from the bottom of her sweater. How when she reached to get her coat from the hook, her sweater lifted to reveal her stomach.
Hold tight – it does go quickly – says the mom of a 17 and 19-year-old.
Clare
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“the pleasantness of my voice and the urgency of time…” Ah, the urgency of time. You are wise to treasure this; not letting time overwhelm the sweetness of this moment. Beautiful.
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Precious!
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Dang – that one got me! As Clare said, this is beautifully crafted! Slowly written about a tiny moment in time – “plagued by a stuffy nose” and “emerged from the cocoon of the covers” are brilliant phrases that capture the moment. I love how short this piece is – every sentence a quality sentence with a meaningful ending! Thanks for sharing!
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You write very beautifully. This is another gem.
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