The Residue Left Behind
A gritty residue greets me this morning. Sand. Yes, we took a mid-fall, or mid-semester, or some kind of random vacation last week. The kids were off for three days so we left for the Florida beach, which explains my lack of blogging. This morning I scoured through the disheveled suitcases and unearthed lots and lots of sand. We left the beach yesterday morning, threw our sandy suits in grocery bags, and headed to sloppy, cold Pittsburgh. I have excellent memories of awesome wave riding and the gritty residue of sand.
I love that good stuff can leave behind bold markers. Like how a good pasta dinner creates nasty garlic breathe. Or planting 150 bulbs in the fall (thanks dear husband) deposits a brown film under my nails. Or the greasy dishes after Thanksgiving dinner. Lots of the stuff we love leaves a residue.
Usually we think of messes or stains or films as bothersome to deal with. The film that coats the inside of my shower bugs the heck out of me when I have to scrub down the tile. But the sand, I love it. I don’t care if I’ll be vacuuming it all week, or that my clothes at Christmas will have sand in them when I unpack at my parents’ house. I’ll take it, a subtle reminder of an excellent trip.
People coat us too. It cracks me up when I hear my kids spew a comment that sounds like it could have come from my mouth. Oh my gosh, are they getting it? Have I finally left a film? At the Dunkin Donuts, one block from our condo, the donut man told them they were the politest kids he’d ever waited on. Yes! A little sand stuck. And after a full day of travel, with a connection through Atlanta (Loud speaker voice: “Thank you for visiting the busiest airport in the country”. Yeah, I see that as I parade my float of six through the terminal, to locate seats together to eat ghastly airport food.) I’m amazingly calm on the way home. My husband’s mellow attitude has coated me.
I can’t wait to see where all the sand ends up this week. Instead of cursing its grit, I’ll try to attach it to one of the many memories hiding in the grains. Maybe my favorite…I got to do one of the things on my list…My kids’ faces, at 6:37 AM, glowed at their first sunrise, blooming over the Atlantic. God was definitely leaving his residue.
10 Responses to “The Residue Left Behind”
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November 7th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Try to remember this post when you are still vacuuming up Christmas tree needles in March.
November 7th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
The sand would drive me crazy what with it’s constant reminder of where I wasn’t. I love the Burgh, but I think I love the beach more. I do have a favorite residue though–when my daughter says “Please” or “Thank You” without being prompted. Politeness makes me happy.
November 7th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
I love this post! We went to the beach in the spring and I wore my favorite flipflops to the beach, after we got home and all summer long, ever time I’d wear those flipflops, I’d have sand on the bottom of my feet! It was great, made me think of the wonderful trip we had!
November 7th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
I think vacation has left it’s residue….nice post! The beach is soundling sooo good right now. I think I’ll go look at my pictures from the summer…
November 7th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
I just wanted to say that I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now and I just think you have a fabulous writing style. It reminds me of my writing style and how I like to link the little things in life to higher morals and values. Thanks for posts that make me smile (and often times cry) =)
November 7th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
What a great way to look at life! And how fun is a beach vacation when you surely must have had the place to yourselves. Thanks for sharing.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:29 am
Beautiful post! Isn’t that what we all want in life, to leave our mark, whether it be with our writing, or by giving to charity, or just by leaving the world with kind, generous, amazing adults, that were once our babies. Welcome home.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
hrm… I have a GREEN residue from the envy.
Also, can you please go hug your husband and thank him for being willing to drop everything and go… lifting you out of the drudgery so that you could, in turn, lift the rest of us.
Wow. Spontaneity, who wudda thunk?
November 19th, 2007 at 11:27 am
I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS ON THE BEACH AND THE SAND THAT ACCOMPANIED THE CHILDREN BACK TO THE CONDO. THOSE WERE GREAT TIMES. AND, THE SAND REALLY DIDN’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE; IT MEANT YOU WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
so glad to have wandered over here. beautiful post that will keep me thinking all the live long day about what residue i am leaving on the people i encounter
thanks!