Real Milestones

I often wonder what I was doing this very day one year ago. Although it has not even been a full year of living in the States, I often find myself replaying my life abroad. I imagine waking up in our house to turn off my fan that I nearly tripped over each day. I remember learning that there was nothing to turn off because the power was out,  my fan was already off. This discovery then led me to accept the fact that I cannot flush the toilet because the water is as well turned off. And then the dreaded fate of not being able to make coffee. I remember those mornings oh so well.....

One particular day at school we were sitting in an assembly and I found myself surrounded by six of the boys in my class. They chose their seats right next to me. Soon after they were climbing onto my lap and clinging on my shoulders. I remember it so clearly. Smiling and laughing as they each pleaded as to why they should sit the closest to me.("Miss Miss!") This memory is so precious to me. This is a memory that causes my eyes to fill with water. These tears take me back there, as though I can touch the moment with my very hands. If I close my eyes I imagine sitting on the concrete floor laughing. My heart longs so deeply to feel that joy. The joy of those faces in that memory. Just one more time.

I am so grateful that the memories come back to me. That I get to carry them with me all the days. That those sweet faces are still smiling today in that little part of the world that shaped me into the woman I am today. The same woman that is yearning to love others well..... to share joy and respect the very gift of simply living and even laugh at the most simple of pleasures...

Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of a memory unannounced  stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these."- Susan B. Anthony