It never ceases to amaze me just how much a simple thing, like a kiss from Emerson or a joke from Michael can brighten even the most frustrating of days. It's as if, when I come home, the worries and stress of the world melt away.
Case and point- this afternoon. School was stressful today: parent emails, students who are ready for the school year to be over, NJHS Induction preparations steadily underway, papers to grade- you get the gist. Enter Emerson and Michael McKnight. I went to pick up Emerson from school, and something about the bright smile that I get from the little guy every day when I walk into his classroom starts to chip away at the disturbances of the day.
After getting in the car, I called Michael, who suggested that we eat dinner at a little place in Justin called Mom's Cafe. It's one of those places with kitschy walls and ads for local businesses under the glass on the tables, a place that leaves you smelling of a mixture of cigarette smoke and good ol' home cooking. Basically, this place reeks of good food and good times.
So, after two slices of ham, a mound of mashed potatoes smothered in cream gravy, a side of pears, and a slice of pecan pie topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream, Emerson and I got in the car ready to follow Daddy home.
And this is where God turned up the wattage on my otherwise dismal day. As Emerson and I were listening to my iPod on the way home from dinner, Dave Matthews' version of the 80's hit, "Sledgehammer" came on. Needless to say, I immediately turned up the volume. Now, share this moment with me, if you can. The guitar starts wailing, Dave starts singing, and giggling erupts from the backseat. Following this laughter I hear little Emerson yelling, with all of the happiness he can muster, "Dave! Dave Matthews! Sledgehammer!" In the rearview mirror, all I see is Emerson's little head bopping from side to side. What's a mom to do? To start dancing too, of course! And to sing into her make-believe microphone. And to give Emerson the make-believe microphone every time the word "Sledgehammer" is uttered in the song.
All of this amidst Maddie's kicking in my belly. What more can a person ask for, really?
It's the simple moments that make all of life's frustrations worth it. As the Little Prince would tell you, it's all about being tamed, about having relationships- that's what breeds these sweet times. It's what makes every moment of life worthwhile.
