...Moments of Zen
I had a moment of Zen today. For the first time in probably six months, my daughter fell asleep in my arms today. I have had a shitty week of vacation. No pun intended since it started with a backed up sewer pipe and has come full circle with my daughter catching a virus. She woke up this morning running a 103 degree fever. The only time she would even remotely calm down was when my wife or I were holding her. So, while my wife got ready to take her to the doctor I held her in our bed and watched "Fletch." I know that it was the virus wearing her out, but it was nice to feel her little head resting on my shoulder.
That reminded me that I did have another moment where I felt at peace with the world last weekend. If you have ever been to my wife's parents' home (and if your reading this you have probably either been there, or live there,) you know that their yard backs up to a pasture. Except for a few weeks in the fall when it turns into a champagne room for cattle, this pasture is occupied solely by two bulls. We were in Cincy for our Godson's first birthday, and after the party we took our daughter into the back yard to see the bulls. They were right up close to the fence, so my wife and mother-in-law held our daughter back a few feet. I approached the fence and walked close to the older, and larger, bull. He had his back turned toward us, but was looking back over his shoulder. When he saw me approach he moved closer with his body parallel to the fence. I was eye to eye with a creature at least ten times my size with only a wire fence and a rail fence right against the wire. The distance was not even the length of my arm. I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I reached out and gave the old bull a pat on the head. He could easily have come through the fences, but he just looked me in the eye. It was the closest I have ever felt to the earth.
I know that this all sounds cheesy to most people, but it's these little things that keep me going from day to day. Perhaps another time I'll peel away a layer, and let the internet world into my head.
That reminded me that I did have another moment where I felt at peace with the world last weekend. If you have ever been to my wife's parents' home (and if your reading this you have probably either been there, or live there,) you know that their yard backs up to a pasture. Except for a few weeks in the fall when it turns into a champagne room for cattle, this pasture is occupied solely by two bulls. We were in Cincy for our Godson's first birthday, and after the party we took our daughter into the back yard to see the bulls. They were right up close to the fence, so my wife and mother-in-law held our daughter back a few feet. I approached the fence and walked close to the older, and larger, bull. He had his back turned toward us, but was looking back over his shoulder. When he saw me approach he moved closer with his body parallel to the fence. I was eye to eye with a creature at least ten times my size with only a wire fence and a rail fence right against the wire. The distance was not even the length of my arm. I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I reached out and gave the old bull a pat on the head. He could easily have come through the fences, but he just looked me in the eye. It was the closest I have ever felt to the earth.
I know that this all sounds cheesy to most people, but it's these little things that keep me going from day to day. Perhaps another time I'll peel away a layer, and let the internet world into my head.
