I found myself thinking back this morning to life as a child, when every holiday was filled with the potential to sleep in, spend all day doing nothing but “fun stuff” and end with a bang and hopefully a movie. I sit here this morning in the home I share with two friends and their families, and I find myself laughing at what happens when you don’t even notice. When did the desire to skip your nap become the desire to occupy the kids (or dog) so you can sit down for 5 minutes?  When did the scheming to get out of chores become excited anticipation of those moments when everyone is out of the house and you can get some cleaning done?  And, when does it happen that your greatest desire goes from jumping in the car and escaping to some far off playground with friends, to just having a few hours to be home?

 

What amazes me is that the joy is the same.  As a child, you can’t imagine anything could be better then pizza and ice cream. Suddenly, five minutes with friends just sitting and talking, feels like a gourmet feast. Here, amid the mayhem and expectations of children on this holiday, I wonder what the day will hold and what unexpected pockets of joy will be discovered.