Slice of LIfe - 3/16/09 (Monday)

The heavy hotel door shut behind me as I place the days’ booty in their pink plastic bags on the king bed. Shane moves to the air conditioner unit and turns it on high while I use the restroom. I hear the TV come on as I open the door and return to the room. Taking off my shoes, I sit cross legged on the bed and begin to go through the bags.

I pull out the two t-shirts from the Titan Missile Museum that we toured. A bright blue 2T for Ander with a picture of the galaxy and the saying “Everything revolves around me” in between the planets. For Laurie, a small, white T with the word “me” in the middle of the planets and the words above the image “Center of the Universe.” Sometimes that 14-year span between them means nothing. I also pull out the small backpack, reviewing the missile, space shuttle, truck, moon rover and other action items for Ander to play with.

The next bag came from San Xavier Mission. Two books for the kids, some DeGrazia notecards and a woman figurine that is sitting crosslegged with the place for a tea light for myself, to remind me to seek stillness and peace. I scan Ander’s book, God is My Friend and read Laurie’s, The Woman Who Loved Wild Horses, and wonder, again, if it is too young for her. The pictures are richly colored and the story is about a girl who runs with the horses she loves and eventually, per village fable, becomes one. Too late, she’s getting it now, and I consider how to tell her that I still see her passion and compassion during this rebellious time.

I separate my goods from theirs and re-bag the items. Following that, I begin to thumb through the book we purchased at the Desert Museum, Landscape Plants for Dry Climates,and envision these plants in our front or back yards. The second book, I don’t touch quite yet. It is a smaller book of a woman’s personal perspective and advice about planting in Arizona.

About 30 minutes pass. Shane is softly snoring as he lays sideways across the bed. I put the book down, take of my glasses and spoon him, thinking what an appropriate way to top our day- a nice nap.