Moments We Take For Granted
My little sister loves to read. Raking my bookshelf has become an unwanted torment, for we have yet to find a solution. A couple of days ago, I sat on my office floor, reorganizing my bookshelf and trying to find age-appropriate books for an eleven-year-old girl to read for the holidays. I came across one of my favorite books, “Holes” by Louis Sachar. As I added it to the tween girl pile, a picture of me laughing and kissing one of my closest girlfriends fell out. We were in the middle of one of The Fray’s concerts; it was summer as the sunset kissed Pier 1 Brooklyn Bridge Park’s ocean side. Though I can’t recall the date, the year, or if we were twenty-two or twenty-three in that pic. That day’s highlights remained; every detail penned in my mind like a lost-found love letter. The smile across my lips, my eyes closed as my friend giggled, the soft glimmer in her eyes; the memories brushed subconsciously through my head.
Other moments and bits rewound that bring out the most profound sentiments like a film roll. That time I danced to the tune of Lauryn Hill with people I love in the middle of a hotel room in Boston. The train rides back to Genoa from Florence with enchanting, beautiful souls. One time, I rode a seven-hour bus to attend a Lany concert with my beloved cousin for a day and returned home the next morning. Or the time I unexpectedly drove to Jupiter on a rainy Saturday morning with a most gentle heart, listening to our favorite song while debating which flavor of tempeh is the bomb.
I sat on the floor wistfully, realizing how precious these moments were and how I might have taken them for granted. Today we are all being tested by COVID and its impact on so many levels—some more than others. In an atmosphere where it is difficult for many to cope with its reality, and a few willingly deny its existence, those moments we spend with friends, family, and loved ones become more valuable. At present, we need human contact more than ever. We need to feel that we are part of a community. We need to know that we matter. We long to give and receive hugs from those we love. Long to kiss those we adore. Spend time with those we cherish. It is challenging and isolating, especially for the many who live alone, reside, and have family abroad. A testing year, I can’t help but wonder if the happenings are a reminder or lesson to grasp what’s truly important—appreciating moments full of gratitude with loved ones—being better humans by challenging our perspective and acknowledging the truth. Finding the good in the bad, the moments we share can bring us back to the surface, and the good times carry us through the day.
Until next time, xoxo.
Sherdley S
