Hopetown Road

I am shuffling around my large bright kitchen while our children are spinning in circles and racing their walkers up and down the vast wood floor entry hall. The noise is deafening, but we have finally adjusted to it, though it has taken a while. With enough wine in the system, almost anything is easier to take.

Landon is picking up clothing that Beck has laughingly strewn all over the family room floor. He patiently folds each piece then drops it into the waiting laundry basket. A fire burns hot in the wood-burning fireplace, and Jimmy Buffett strums quietly in the background.

Maybe, I think to myself, we can get through this after all. If life isn’t exactly about these moments, moments of solid family time and a safe loving environment, then what else is there?

Landon stops to take a sip of his Kendall Jackson chardonnay. He makes a face. It is warm.

“Lexie, can you toss me an ice cube?” He sits down and catches the cube squarely on his temple. “Ow!” he shouts as he rubs his face.

Hooting loudly, I trill, “I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were going to sit down!”

Beck has witnessed this tidbit of lightheartedness and begins bubbling over with laughter, too. It is high time that the mood around the house is lifted and lightened up, I think. Slowly I reach into the Sub

Zero fridge while keeping one eye on Landon, and grab a larger chunk. I run over to where he is seated on the green sofa and promptly stuff the freezing cube down his shirt and hold it there. 

“Hey! You’re done!” He jumps up and runs for the freezer while I squeal and dive over the sofa to hide.

“I want fum!” Beck now also wants in the action. I am all too aware that his plan is to ice down his little sister, which is not an option.

“Ohhh no, little man.” I begin to protest until Beck commences to cry out. Then, dutifully I ask Landon to get a smaller piece for Little Man. Beck clumsily climbs out of the walker and begins pumping his short pudgy legs, chasing his daddy all over the kitchen. It suddenly and quickly becomes a free-for-all.

As is her way, little baby Delilah happily sits in her walker and watches the entire escapade unfold. This little angel is easily satisfied and mostly happy. She giggles and places her tiny hands over her ears when the noise level goes even higher. Her plump cheeks are bright pink with excitement and the heat of the fire. Her jet black hair sits matted against her perfectly shaped head, with one little tendril drifting down over her sparkling right eye.

Seeing my beautiful daughter like this makes my heart overflow with such an enormously fierce love that I break away from the fun and games to sweep my daughter up into my arms and to hold her warm little body. I walk over to the sofa cradling Delilah and sit down to watch the boys in my life run around the rooms with loud and innocent abandon. Beck, in all his glory is having the time of his life. 

This is what life is all about. Not the cars, or the houses, or the clothes.

Just this.