Merriam-Webster defines "Sigh (verb): to take a deep audible breath (as in weariness or relief)2: to make a sound like sighing
I like to think of "life sighs" as those experiences that become our lasting memories, our defining moments -- the things that make us who we are, the milestones that mark our journey through life. Some of these memories leave us longing for "the good old days" and others bring wrenchingly painful emotions to the surface every time we allow them to breach the borders of our consciousness. But we let those painful memories in -- we must -- for without them, we can't truly appreciate all of the good.
This weekend my husband, Paul, and I slipped out of the house early Sunday morning with our caffeine and reading material in hand, and headed to the local beach. As the sun rose higher in the sky, a solitary beach began to buzz with life as visitors arrived: families, an elderly couple searching for sea glass, a treasure hunter with a metal detector strapped to his back who was heavily concentrated on the rhythmic ticking of this amazing machine certain to secure his retirement.
A young boy, possibly 5 years old, stood at the edge of the sea, just out of reach of the receding waves, tossing stones into the ocean. Paul and I reflected on how it seemed just last year our son Christopher, was this small. He loved to go on long walks and toss stones in the ocean. Now, soon to celebrate 16 years of life, he is anxious to get his driver's license, and looking forward to college visits next Spring.
This "sigh" reminds us how quickly time is passing and how we need to appreciate every minute of every day. For today is just tomorrow's memory.
Citation: "sigh." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008.
Merriam-Webster Online. 27 May 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment