Small moments (an essay)

[Gabe]

The economy is terrible, both my wifes and my place of employment announced lay-offs, all my vehicles are ready to give up the ghost and this winter caused the pipes to burst in my garage and yet today I was reminded of how lucky I am.

I went out to sit on the deck to try and relax by smoking a Coronado knowing I wouldn't be purchasing anymore for a long time, when I heard one of the few sounds that makes me almost lose my breath, cerrik cerrik... a Woodcock had decided that the fallow field across the street would be the ideal place to attract a mate. I called to my 6 yr old boy now in his PJ's ready for bed to come out and sit with me and before I could tell him to listen he heard it and his eyes light up. I was so proud that he just knew whatever was making that noise was something special. Then the little timber-doodle took to the air making that beautiful sound, the twitter and the little peep peep, we were able to see him in the dim sky then he fell back to earth. The joy of being able to share that with my son almost made me choke up. Suddenly there was a rush of similer moments brought forward in my mind.

My life is made up of so many BIG things that I think will dictate my happiness when really it's the small moments that are what help me to survive. My family used to visit a lovely old camp on a lake in Canada, it had an old hand pump that was the only way to get drinkable water, I remember that sound to this day. It meant Grampa was up making coffee and that he would be up to wake me to go fishing. As always, life changes things, family moved away and we stopped going, maybe 15 years and two kids later we were able to return. One foggy morning after a fight with my soon to be X-wife my 2yr old daughter and I were sitting on the dock when we heard a loon her expression made me forget everything. She almost fell off the dock trying to see it through the fog.

The following fall after a bad divorce that resulted in my Kids moving away and left with no money and in bad shape emotionally.   I decided to go hunting on my dads farm I just needed to get in the woods. I wasn't really paying attention, when a grouse burst out from right between my feet, without even thinking I was able to ground the bird, I recall yelling at the top of my lungs

[waygard33]

Great story Gabe. Thanks for posting.

Sorry for the hard times, but you and your essay are great reminders that the things that really matter, can't be taken away from you.

Good luck and keep your head up.

Wayne in Oregon

[AustinBoston]

The economy is terrible, both my wifes...

 :yikes:

One wife is enough for me...

All kidding aside, it sounds like you know this isn't the end of the world, or even the beginning of the end.  Life goes on, and no matter how bad it gets, there are still flowers, if you choose to stop and smell them.

Yesterday, PJay had a job interview, and passed with flying colors with the person the owner said was most important...the owner's dog.  There is work out there.  A few companies know this is the time to get really good people, because there are plenty in the marketplace.

Austin

[sandykayak]

That was beautiful, Gabe.  Thank you very much for sharing.  Also, it seems as if you realize the value of expressing yourself.  Better than bottling things up.  Sorry about the tough times.

And, Austin, only one wife??  I'm getting ready to initiate my third divorce.  Could it be moi???  

Three have tried ....and failed.....

Oh, and I am in frequent contact with all of them  My motto is to "Never let divorce interfere with family relations."   Have seen/spoken with all three over the past week.  We help each other out.

[AustinBoston]

And, Austin, only one wife??  I'm getting ready to initiate my third divorce.

My assumption was that he had them both at the same time...he didin't say my wife and my ex, or both my ex's...

What a difference some punctuation can make.

Austin

[sandykayak]

my apologies for hijacking the thread.  and austin, i was joshing about you saying "one wife is enough for me" or words to that effect.

Gabe, we can all look back on hard times and know that we survived.  As the saying goes, "This, too, shall pass."  We invariably end up stronger.  Good luck.

[austinado16]

So to summarize:

Marriage, bad.  When down and out, kill something. :p

[MotherNature]

The economy is terrible, both my wifes and my place of employment announced lay-offs, all my vehicles are ready to give up the ghost and this winter caused the pipes to burst in my garage and yet today I was reminded of how lucky I am.

I went out to sit on the deck to try and relax by smoking a Coronado knowing I wouldn't be purchasing anymore for a long time, when I heard one of the few sounds that makes me almost lose my breath, cerrik cerrik... a Woodcock had decided that the fallow field across the street would be the ideal place to attract a mate. I called to my 6 yr old boy now in his PJ's ready for bed to come out and sit with me and before I could tell him to listen he heard it and his eyes light up. I was so proud that he just knew whatever was making that noise was something special. Then the little timber-doodle took to the air making that beautiful sound, the twitter and the little peep peep, we were able to see him in the dim sky then he fell back to earth. The joy of being able to share that with my son almost made me choke up. Suddenly there was a rush of similer moments brought forward in my mind.

My life is made up of so many BIG things that I think will dictate my happiness when really it's the small moments that are what help me to survive. My family used to visit a lovely old camp on a lake in Canada, it had an old hand pump that was the only way to get drinkable water, I remember that sound to this day. It meant Grampa was up making coffee and that he would be up to wake me to go fishing. As always, life changes things, family moved away and we stopped going, maybe 15 years and two kids later we were able to return. One foggy morning after a fight with my soon to be X-wife my 2yr old daughter and I were sitting on the dock when we heard a loon her expression made me forget everything. She almost fell off the dock trying to see it through the fog.

The following fall after a bad divorce that resulted in my Kids moving away and left with no money and in bad shape emotionally.   I decided to go hunting on my dads farm I just needed to get in the woods. I wasn't really paying attention, when a grouse burst out from right between my feet, without even thinking I was able to ground the bird, I recall yelling at the top of my lungs

[sandykayak]

Gabe, I thought of you this weekend while camping in Fl's Highlands Hammock State Park.

I picked up my Kindle (google Amazon Kindle) and saw that I had ordered The Secret.  I started reading it and it covers the Laws of Attraction.  like attracts like.  what you put out into the universe comes back to you.   heavy on the power of your mind to make things happen

I think it would be very uplifting for you to read it (and view the video - its awesome!).  I'm sure your library will have it.  Click here to read a description and testimonials:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+secret

do keep us posted