I attempted to explain to my kids the other day that no matter how old you are, you still feel young inside. Whether you're in your thirties or your eighties, you probably still feel like a teenager. At least I do. I often feel like I'm playing house. I look around me, with David Byrne singing in my brain, "This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife." How exactly did I get here?
I remember a dozen years ago, I was out on a date with George. We were driving to Dairy Queen to get a butterscotch dipped cone. He shared a vision with me - he imagined us living in a small house, here in the town where we now live; it was the weekend, he was mowing the lawn, and I came out when he was done with a pot of coffee. We sat at a little table on the porch and drank coffee together. I could almost smell the fresh cut grass as he shared a vision with me that I wanted to share with him.
In our years together we've lived out different variations of his vision. Just this past weekend, while he was pruning the three small pomegranate trees we recently planted, I sat out in the garden, drinking a cup of coffee, watching him work. I didn't bring him a cup; he was already drinking a bottle of pumpkin ale he brewed last month. I felt at that moment that I knew exactly how I got here, that this is my beautiful life and he is my beautiful husband, and that we are living the life we were meant to live together.
I made this little wreath with the clippings from the pomegranate trees, and hung it on the wall in my kitchen.
Even though I feel like I'm still 14 or 15, my husband's family thinks I'm old enough and responsible enough to host Thanksgiving dinner for 16 people. I've been doing it for a few years now, so I think I can pull it off. The refrigerator is stuffed with food, lists have been made, there's furniture to move, linens to press and toilets to scrub. I'm all set to play house and hostess.
Happy Thanksgiving friends! May your cup runneth over with coffee and your belly and turkey be equally stuffed in the days to come.
What great sentiments - have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of peace, laughter, love, and lotsa food!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful wreath.
Beautiful thoughts.
Beatuful how beautiful life is.
Happy Thanksgiving! Wish I could join you... I know you will put on a beautiful feast. I love your home and your "wee house". Love the wreath on flickr. Now that I know the depth to those branches, I appreciate it even more now.
ReplyDeleteOhhh, that's sweet : )
ReplyDelete(THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the nutlaces!! They arrived today. We love them.) And we are loving your beautiful burlap things you make.
I am totally in awe of your dinner for 16 -- AND you're going to scrub the toilets. You rock.
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
molly, this is beautiful. all of it--the house, the wreath and bird, your words.
ReplyDeletehappy thanksgiving to you, too.
oh, i can't imagine feeling grown up enough to do that.
ReplyDeletebut i suppose i am.
happy thanksgiving to you, blog friend.
This concept of our bodies growing old while our mind is still the same is one that has plagued me and sustained me equally for years. My twelve year old daughter, my eighty three year old mother, myself...we all have the same loves, insecurities, and dreams.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog...I wish I could do something even approaching these things with burlap, of all things!!!
Happy Thanksgiving, and let's all keep young and grow up at the same time.
aww.... I love moments like that.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you my friend.
Wonderful weath, bird and house, Molly, and I know what you mean about still feeling 15. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family.
ReplyDeleteoh, I have so much to do as well - yet, I sit here and read blogs instead. Nothing like the last minute.
ReplyDeleteenjoyed your post - have a wonderful thanksgiving.
He sounds like a sweet guy with good taste!
ReplyDeleteThis post resonates with me on so many levels... I feel like I'm playing house all the time! It got me thinking, how lucky are we? When you can feel like your playing when your at home (instead of working your butt off) than you can really enjoy your life in that happy way that kids do. I hope I never grow out of that!
ReplyDeleteBeing in charge of Thanksgiving does make you feel like a grown up doesn't it. I think the same thing. How come I'm doing this. This is for Mom to do... oh right, that's me.
ReplyDeleteI've spent the last day reading your blog entries and wishing that I could reach some of the serenity I feel with your daily rhythms... I feel my kids and their activities and social life keeps me forever in my car moving, unable to savor the quiet moments without being exhausted.
ReplyDelete2009 needs to be my year to find balance, finding a rhythm to enjoy my kids as they grow and indulge in the reading and crafting passions that make mommy happy too... Seems you live a blessed life, all the more so for you realizing that you are living it and taking time to savor it!!
Cathi, and expat Yank in Ireland that won't be having Thanksgiving tomorrow, but running kids off to school and dance class.
That is a wonderful memory to share together.
ReplyDeleteI do think we all have our inner teenager inside running things...
thank you for this. have a wonderful holiday!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing the burlap treasures with us. I look forward to playing more (I've already made myself a bag!)
Stephanie
What a nice thought. Thanks for that. Good luck with your Thanksgiving, I'm sure it will be fantastic! Have a happy one!
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely story. I look around myself sometimes and wonder who is "in charge" - then realize I pull rank. It's always a little disconcerting. I appreciate your emphasis on being young at heart - keeps the glass half full.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you and your sweet family this week. I am grateful for you.
Just beautiful! Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Molly :)
ReplyDeleteThank You for reminding me that I too have a beautiful, a beautiful family, and a beautiful husband.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving
I'm so glad you agreed to share his vision for your life together (she says wiping the tears from her eyes), and I'm very grateful for the honor of sitting at your --well appointed-- table, sharing in the fruits of that shared vision.
ReplyDeleteYour wreath is beautiful....as are your thoughts of gratitude and contentment. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteI, too, have faith in your ability to host this meal. Have a great time and happy holidays to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteHappy T-day to you and your family! Loved this post. Reminds me of my husband. I hope tomorrow is filled with laughter, love, and good food! :)
ReplyDeletemolly,
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful post... thank you for sharing!
happy thanksgiving!
Pretty wreath! Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely, lovely! I just came across your blog and am enjoying it very much. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeletewhat a great story. thanks for sharing that sweet moment.
ReplyDeletei know what you mean about still feeling like a kid. i can't imagine hosting my family for thanksgiving. there's too many of us-i don't think i could do it. it's truly a group effort.
hoping you and your family a wonderful thanksgiving!
What a beautiful mental picture I have - I long for that life...Have a happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I very much still feel 14! I only get to prepare Thanksgiving for two this year though...just husband and me. No traveling. I'm very much looking forward to a lovely quiet day.
ReplyDeleteLove your wreath.
Happy Thanksgiving, dear Molly.
Awwwe, that is such a beautiful post. . . I enjoy your view on life, that you are playing house. I always get stuck in the, "oh, I have so much responsibility." It makes it not so fun.
ReplyDelete(p.s. - I can't wait to find someone to share my vision with. You and George are quite lucky).
I know just how you feel!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Thanksgiving, Molly.
I can just imagine you and George in your dating years going to Dairy Queen... Very sweet story.
ReplyDeleteAnd I sometimes have a moment where I wonder how I got "here" too. But I'm thankful to be here with the company that I have. Happy Thanksgiving, friend.
I'm glad you feel such contentment in your marriage to a wonderful person such as George. Hopefully you can make each day that way.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as I will clean the toilets this morning before your brother and Michelle arrive, I won't feel like a teenager at all! BUT they will be clean!
Love
Dad
Yes, I know what you mean. I feel young inside, too and often wonder in amazement at all I've accompished with my beautiful husband. There are days I see the reflections of my husband's youthful pictures in his face and I wish that I knew him then, and I am glad I know him now.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving, hope it was full of love.
Beautiful! I was thinking something similar as I was planning and grocery shopping and cooking - the thought crossed my mind that "how had it come to this, where I was in charge of Thanksgiving dinner?" "Am I really considered responsible enough to be doing this, and for that matter when did I become responsible enough to be the mother to teenagers?" What a sweet and lovely picture of you and your husband and the life you share!
ReplyDeleteOh! I love that beautiful life. Until I have to do the laundry.
ReplyDelete(yes, I am very late commenting! I'm playing catch-up!)