Yesterday brought unexpected, but simple, pleasures — with the sun that followed the torrential downpour of the day before. Though I had decided to look on the bright side of the rain with my previous post {by shopping for the best rain coats and boots} we desperately needed some brightness around this dreary place.
We awoke to see that the stream in our back yard had swelled quite a lot in the storm — moving briskly, but still no more than a few feet high. The water was all lit up and sparkly by the unfamiliar sight of sun, so we headed outside to soak it in. It was gorgeous — like a movie director had flipped the switch on the set from “rain” to “sun.”
Hudson proposed that we drag our metal canoe {from Mr. BOP’s childhood; circa 1970} out of the woods and go for a spin in our newly formed rapids. Mr. BOP was on board, as he usually is with things like this, and they were off:
Canoeing across the yard was the highlight of the day; as we would cruise for several hundred feet, pull the canoe out at the bend, and carry it across the lawn and back upstream. And repeat. Our rapids offered a thrill ride that was surprisingly satisfying. We all took turns, except for Ollie {we wondered if the current was too strong for him}.
So a 40 year old canoe provided the day’s main entertainment. Who would ‘a thunk?
I should say our kids are just like other “typical” tweens and teens — they have their moods, they don’t always want to go outside, and they love media and a lit up screen as much as anyone. And that’s why this spontaneous fun in our canoe meant something to all of us. It gave us a break from some of the typical things that can sap the energy of a family. There was no money. No plugs. No planning. No negotiating. No hurrying.
It wasn’t that this activity was so special, but it had all of the combined simple elements that are rejuvenating. I’m sure that many of you had a replenishing moment this weekend, too. I hope so — as they can carry us through those long weekdays. This one was a lesson to me that for all of the planning and scheming that I do on behalf of our family, it can be even better to just let it flow — and see where it takes us.
Related posts:
- Tween Powers Activate! Fun With Inkodye and a $25 Giveaway
- Happy Feet: A Kid Being a Kid
- So Big, and Back to School
- Quick! Grab the Camera! {Before it’s too late}
Woo-hoo–sounds like fun to me! We had an unexpected treat on Thursday when, after preparing lunch for friends who were about to leave for the winter, I discovered that it was in the low 60′s and realized we could make it into a picnic. Packing everything up (hot chili and warm cornbread aren’t exactly picnic foods), we paraded outside and enjoyed the sunshine long after lunch was over. Our friends were headed to Arizona, but I felt like we’d found a sweet, sunny resort in our own Vermont backyard.
Love,
DD