Thursday, December 17, 2009

Don't Blink

The house is so very peaceful.

I quietly walk by and see Eric fast asleep. He looks so content. What’s that saying, “Let sleeping babies lie.”

So I let him sleep.



Ahh.....It seems like only yesterday I took him home from the hospital.

All those endless nights of crying...

All those bedtime stories...




All those precious moments spent with my "Bud".



 My memory wanders to all the times he hung out with me, thought I was pretty cool, and never was embarrassed I was his mom.


Through the years we've been through a lot; after school sports, last minute science projects, and impromptu Halloween costumes...yup, those years certainly were special.


Time went by faster than I realized and before I knew it high school graduation had arrived.




Wow.  Eric's 18.  When did that happen?

As fast as it took you to read this blog, is as fast as it seemed. And now my "little guy" is a freshman at Marist College and I couldn't be more proud of the man he is becoming.

As I pick up his sweatshirt off the floor, the empty pizza box and the xbox controller, I trip over his laptop and just about land on top of the clock...





...it's one o'clock!

WHAT?

In the AFTERNOON?

...and he's sleeping?

As I contemplate flipping him off the couch on to the floor, nagging him to unload the dishwasher or at the very least straighten up his room, I remember going to bed last night at midnight and he was still up studying for his final in statistics.  He's a good kid, and I'm proud he's my son.

I grab the blanket and cover him up and give him a light kiss on his forehead.

In the background, the radio's playing a country song by Kenny Chesney.  I start to well up as I listen to the lyrics:


Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did...
Don't blink
...Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand
You can't flip it over and start again
Take every breath God gives you for what it's worth...


Enjoy the fingerprints on the wall, the dirty clothes left on the floor, the house full of screaming kids...

It all goes by so fast.  Don't wish for tomorrow because it'll be here faster than you know it.

Take a breath and enjoy today.



 I love you, Eric.






9 comments:

  1. What a great post, Margarete! You remind me of my mother in a lot of ways. Eric sounds like a good man. Tell him to enjoy college. It goes by very fast!

    I found you on Facebook and joined your fan page. I have a blog, too. It's called Welcome to Joshland. If you ever have a moment, I hope you'll come over and read it.

    Peaceful Things.

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  2. Thank you so much for ending my night with such beautiful and loving pictures. I enjoyed reading your wonderful memories about Eric... I know I'll have sweet dreams tonight.
    Jackie xoxo

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  3. You are such a gifted writer Margarete. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Margarete, Thank you for always touching my heart. Eric is a special guy and it is because of all that love that surrounds him. God Bless and have a joyous Christmas. That special angel is smiling down on all of us. I feel her here with me always, Linda

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  5. I know what you mean, it seems like yesterday they all little and playing together. When did he get to be such a man and not a little boy. Eric is a great person and makes everyone he knows proud, so you should be the proudest mom ever. God bless.

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  6. Oh!It was a great read. Beautiful pictures too. And i think you and Eric are one of the cutest mother and son i have seen. I write in bodyandmindforallwomen.blogspot.com. Do drop by and tell me what you think. Lovely post girl!

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    I'M A CZECH ARTIST/PRODUCER LIVING IN ST LOUIS.
    MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MUSIC FOR YOUR MOVIE.
    I'VE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF WRITING A TITLE SONG FOR "BEYOND BREATHING".
    THESE ARE THE LYRICS... CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW.
    I PLAN TO RECORD THE SONG TOMORROW.

    I can’t help but think of you
    One thing that I know is true
    I’ve come to see…Love goes beyond breathing
    We can’t change what’s meant to be
    We just live with destiny
    Now I believe…Love is beyond breathing
     
    If love goes beyond breathing…You’re always in my heart
    If love goes beyond breathing…That’s just the place it starts
    If love lives forever…Someday we’ll be together
    As long as I breathe…You’re a part of me
    As long as my heart is beating…Love goes beyond breathing
     
    I look at the stars tonight
    Now and then I see your eyes
    Here’s what I find…Love goes beyond breathing
    There’s another time and place
    I’ll smile when I see your face
    I keep in mind…Love goes beyond breathing
     
    If love goes beyond breathing…You’re always in my heart
    If love goes beyond breathing…That’s just the place it starts
    If love lives forever…Someday we’ll be together
    As long as I breathe…You’re a part of me
    As long as my heart is beating…Love goes beyond breathing

    GEORGE SLADEK
    6503 MURDOCH AVENUE
    ST LOUIS, MISSOURI 63109
    314-353-6503
    georgesladek@yahoo.com



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  8. Beautiful post, sweetie....as always.

    Did you notice how tight your hands are clasped in that shot where you're kidding Eric on the cheek? It's the first thing I noticed....you're holding him SO TIGHT.....as always!

    xoxo

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  9. Kathryn,

    Thanks...and yeah, I never want to let him go...ever.

    ReplyDelete