For the month of March , I will be participating in the Slice of Life Challenge (#sol19) sponsored by Two Writing Teachers. I will be slicing each day for 31 days inspired by my work as a literacy specialist and coach, my life, and my fellow bloggers.
Routine #3: Reflection . #sol19
March 20, 2019
Autopilot. Every day.
Alarm early. My side of the bed. Out and dressed.
Dog leash in hand. Quick walk and quiet talk. Then breakfast for her.
Coffee percolating. ‘School lunch’ for the two humans. Potato Chip for Lily.
All done now, girl.
Phase 2. Cup of Coffee. Slices or other reading for 1/2 hour or so.
Then…
Wait… I look in the mirror while I am drying my hair and your eyes stare back at me in the mirror. I look again closer. They aren’t actually your eyes. I remember your eyes being a soft blue with a little green and mine… well they bear that tawny hazel from I don’t know where.
So what is it? The crow’s feet? The shape? I don’t really see it in the next minute. Just a fleeting feeling and unseen seen and then gone.
I pause. The house is quiet. He is gone and she has gone to sleep somewhere else.
I wonder about you, so long gone. What would I say if I had the chance? What would you ask?
I shake my head a little, staying in the present.
Returning to the routine.
Wow … this is really cool. I was mesmerized – truly holding on to each word as they passed … like time. I could feel the morning pace and then how you slow down, find yourself along with big thoughts … back to the routine. You have me thinking what would I say, what would I ask? Wondering if this is part of channeling and visualizing our best self … at least my mind made that connection from the weekend. I love what you did in this slice today … thank you for taking me with you and letting reflect as well.
Very touching slice. I had a much more superficial experience this morning in the mirror after blowdrying: I cut my hair too short last week.
Thanks for taking us with you through your morning routine. I’ll be honest… there are many days I look in the mirror and don’t recognize the woman staring back at me. I’ve aged a lot in the past six – eight years.
This line “I wonder about you, so long gone. What would I say if I had the chance? ” feels like the centerpiece for me. Our loved ones stay with us forever and clearly the connection that you catch briefly in the mirror bears testament to it. Captivating slice.
Your title is perfect. This had me thinking about my own mirror reflections.
This slice really had me pondering….Who were you seeing for that moment? How long has she been gone? What would you say if you had a chance? I reread this slice many times searching for the person in the mirror. I love the way the slice moves from routine to this moving experience and back to routine. I think it’s good that you had that “moment” with your loved one. These are precious.
My mom. She has been gone a long time, 15 years.
For me, your slice today highlights the disorienting gap between routine and not-routine, how we can’t experience one without the other.