How Was Your Day?

So... How are you? How was your day?

That's what starts so many of our conversations. With David, Archer, Shelly, Eli, Nana. Ever since April, I talk to Nana almost every day, mostly on my way home from work. How was your day? Same as usual. Or, this unusual thing happened, a pumpkin showed up in the mail for me today, was it you? Same as usual, except today this (totally normal but interesting/annoying/upsetting/happy) thing happened. We talk for ten or twenty minutes, catch up, tell each other funny stuff, I love you, we'll talk tomorrow...

Our days are so mundane. Family Life, scrambling to eat dinner, run to Scouts, Piano Lesson, Special Event. And somehow it's all so the same, and also so special. Archer making his lunch for tomorrow while listening to music on his earbuds and the only part I can hear is Archer singing "Summer of 69" in the kitchen. With a few dance moves thrown in. Shelly curled in my lap cuddling up like a cat. Eli brushing his teeth. Eli telling me about the Scout meeting where the most important thing was the choice of snacks they had. Shelly still curled in my lap like a cat as I scratch her head. Archer telling me some funny thing that he saw online when chatting with friends who live on the other side of the globe. Tonight I sang the same bedtime song to Eli that I've sang to him almost every night for the last so many years. Doesn't he ever want a new song? At the end, I kiss his kissable cheeks and he kisses me, getting in the last kiss. Goodnight, I love you. It all repeats again tomorrow at 6 a.m. when I make sure Archer's out of bed and we start again. Have a good day, I love you.

I don't remember much of kindergarten, high school, all of that. Twenty, thirty years from now, what will I remember of this? I have flashes of those times long gone, I wonder what the flashes of memories will be in the future. But, I know this - I'm enjoying it now. When Archer was born, they said, cherish this time, it will go so fast. I blinked, and he's in high school. I'm trying to cherish it. The subdivision of box houses that currently resides in my living room (yes, several houses made of boxes have been built - in my living room), the strong friendships my kids are making (Archer has been friends with L for 10 years now!!!), all of these life things. When are they too old to crawl around on their knees everywhere they go, too old to pretend to be a puppy or a kitty, too old to any of it? I try not to let any of it slide away without noticing, without seeing it. I marvel at the wonderful family in front of me and try to enjoy every moment of it. This wonderful life.