The last rain fell on July 10. They were saying that was it, it would be a long time before it came back. When the rain ends in Seattle it’s like time stops—and when it returns it’s like an old friend, you pick up where you left off. I walked to the bus stop without an umbrella (it was just a fine mist) and sat huddled in the back with the others on the bus, shifting from side to side in the dark, the automated voice calling out each stop. We would look back on this day and miss it.
At work on my afternoon walk I passed the Nintendo HQ, young workers with tats and jeans: today, two guys walking side by side, one with blue hair, the other, a beard he’d dyed red. They reminded me of a child’s story by P.D. Eastman, the one about two dogs who go camping (Fred and Ted): one blue, the other red. And I had to laugh but then I got sad, remembering reading that book to my kids, imagining when they’d be old enough to camp—and now they were, but not interested anymore. And when I counted the weekends we had free still, there were maybe four. We would look back on these days and miss them. But when they’d come home, it would be like they never left.
Yes … there are lots of days I look back at with regret. All of the missed opportunities and chances. One of my parental regrets is that I didn’t make more time for camping and hiking, for getting my boys out there into the world. But between work and school and their sports teams and everything else, it just seemed like something that was insurmountable — just another mountain that needed to be climbed and I had nothing left to climb that mountain with them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ack, I slather the maple syrup of regret and remorse and it’s hard to get off. Sorry about that Mark! But glad you had your reflections too in reading this. Be glad you don’t live in the PNW, I think some of us are a bit “off” as a result.
LikeLike
Ah, what would life be without a few regrets thrown in every now and then.
You do realize that I’d like to live on the Oregon coast … I guess I want to be one of those a bit “off.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, you belong. 🖖🏿
LikeLiked by 1 person
Woohoo!!!
LikeLike
More a curse than a compliment, sorry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m trying to stay optimistic.
LikeLike
Sometimes all it takes is oddly-colored hair and blamo. Right down the rabbit hole. I’m old enough to be nostalgic about my kids. They’re that old now.
LikeLike
yes, indeed. like the welcome and comfortable return of an old, familiar friend.
LikeLike
Yup, Barbie dolls. I am still holding onto a crate of them, waiting to see if the granddaughter will be the next-generation to play with the Barbies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope she will! Great to hear from you Valarie! Bill
LikeLiked by 1 person
“slather the maple syrup of regret and remorse” 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sticky and sweet.
LikeLike
Go, dog. Go!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Best Nest!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s it
LikeLike
The small and joys of a charming life, we admire them as it flits by us….a heartwarming account, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Vishal and thank you! Hope you are enjoying the start of your week. I’m still waking up, not doing well doing so (we don’t do well when it gets hot here). Hope you’re well, Bill
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am in the same mode and napped for 2 hours during the night. Thanks Bill. I am good, mate and always lovely to read your thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mist and misty eyes.
Nice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person