Three gentle giants wait for me in the backyard. Eighty feet tall or so, my magical maples watch over our home and guard our dreams. They stand in a curved row, committed back-up singers, ready to harmonize with those who'll listen.
Daily, I feel them calling me away from the computer, out of the rush, past my worries. Humming, encouraging, being. They know I've forgotten to breathe again. Meditation has fallen away this week, as I push for more book promotion, more people to contact, more life to live. The pulse of perfectionism has kidnapped me again.
I search for what's missing in my post-its, my emails, on my to-do list. I've forgotten that joy and gratitude are productive companions. The kids call, the laundry moans, and the phone screams my name. I plug my ears. I can't hear myself over all the questions. So I answer the maples.
I step out the backdoor and we sigh in unison. They are the quietest of teachers and it is their peace I seek. "There you are," they whisper sweetly. "Come sit down with the dandelions." The lawn chair scoops me up and I rest in it's arms. I stare at the maples, waiting.
In the front yard, someone is crying. Drat. I get up, unlatch the gate and walk away from my sanctuary, knowing I may not return today. Down our drive, I spot the two five-year-old friends facing each other. I check my son Kyler's face, but the hurt isn't his. I switch to our neighbor, Jeremiah. His mouth is wide and wailing. Both boys are sitting on the sidewalk, scooters flung to the side.
Just as I'm about to call to them, I see Kyler raise his finger and gently, lovingly, touch Jeremiah's nose. I catch my breath. A tiny giggle spurts out of Jeremiah, defying his tears. Ky blesses his friend's nose again, light as tinker bell. They both giggle more. I back away quickly, not wanting to disturb the vision, the sweet sharing, the love being passed on. I walk back to my place in the sun with a heart open wider.
Just as I sit back among the maples, I remember an email I must return. My busy train chugs out of the station when I hear a firm and penetrating, shhhhhhhhhhhhhh. My body freezes. My mind dumps it's contents. Did anyone hear that? But no one is there. The maples are definitely addressing me. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Whoa, there it is again. They are swaying inside their own message. They are perfect in their tone and their lullaby. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh they coo, as their leaves wave and laugh. The sky is rocked clean in their easy, soft spell. My smile sails across the yard.
As I hear the clank of the gate unlatching, I sigh. I turn to tell the intruder that I need time alone, but before I can, Ky asks brightly, "Mommy, wanna a piece a gum?" My smile surprises me. "Sure," I answer. "Jeremiah had to go home," he reports, as he hands me a soft piece of Bubble Yum. We unwrap the pink puff and eat our gum together, in silence. Kyler rests so naturally, cross legged in his chair. His breathing is free, his spirit, whole. The maples say shhhhhhhhhhh one more time and I remember what I've forgotten. I close my eyes. The magic sits before me, within me, like a wide-eyed child. My son, and the mama maples, have settled the breezes inside me, again.