Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Winter (11/14/05)
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TITLE: Snowments in Time | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lynda Lee Schab
11/21/05 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
When I opened my eyes
I moaned and I groaned…
I did not want to rise
I'd rather have stayed there
Snuggled up in my bed
But that wasn't an option
So I rolled out, instead.
We had guests arriving
And the house was a mess!
So today would be spent
Preparing for guests.
There were floors to be mopped
And sheets to be changed,
Carpets to vacuum,
Furniture to arrange.
There were piles of laundry
And toilets to scrub,
And I couldn't forget
The stubborn ring in the tub.
Shuffling past the window
I glanced through to outside
And when I saw what I saw
I stood there and cried.
The whole yard was covered
In three feet of snow
Oh please…not today!
No, no, no, no, no!
I closed up the curtains
And said a quick prayer
That my kids wouldn't notice
All the snow that was out there!
They'd want to go out
But I had no time for fun
Today was important -
There was work to be done!
But then - there it came…
That loud, piercing squeal,
Then I knew I had failed
My attempt to conceal.
My children all stood
By the window with glee
The only one who looked glum
Was poor, pitiful me.
They pleaded and begged
To go play in the snow
How I wanted to say
"No problem - just go!"
But they were too little
To go out alone
Which meant that my cleaning
I would need to postpone.
I sighed and gave in
To the pleas of my four.
And almost got trampled
As they ran for the door.
"Not so fast!" I called.
"Get back over here!
I need lots of help
Finding your winter gear."
We searched high and low
For the scarves and snow suits
We dug out the mittens,
The hats, and the boots.
It took a full thirty minutes
To completely get dressed,
And when we were finished
I was ready to rest.
But the kids wouldn't have it,
They dragged me outdoors,
The whole time I was thinking
About my dirty floors.
We were out for five minutes
When my youngest son, Scotty,
Tugged on my sleeve -
He had to go potty.
Right then I suspected
As I looked down at my son,
That my floors would stay dirty,
Laundry wouldn't get done.
My guests would arrive
To toilets unscrubbed
They would likely notice
The ring in the tub.
But at that single moment,
On that blustery day,
I just didn't care -
I wanted to play.
I tried not to think
Of what wouldn't get done
As I frolicked and played
With my kids - oh what fun!
We stopped to eat lunch
Then went back for more
We built a huge snowman
And a fort with a door!
Freezing and exhausted,
We finally went in,
Took off our wet clothes
And warmed up our cold skin.
I looked at the clock -
Only two hours more
Before we would hear
That knock on the door.
I went for the broom,
But saw on the way
The message light blinking
So I paused to push "play."
"So sorry, can't come…"
was all that I heard
the rest of the message
is all but a blur.
Our guests would not be
Arriving today
I was more than relieved,
Though it sounds cruel to say.
There was no need to mop
Or dust or scrub
Or tackle that ring
That still circled the tub.
But none of that mattered
I learned on that day
The important thing was
I'd gone out to play.
My house may have sparkled,
been clean and dust-free
But that can't compare
With great memories.
The dirt will still be there
As my children grow
But there won't always be
Days to play in the snow.
Now "snowments in time"
I grasp at all cost
Before moments to treasure
Forever are lost.
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I grasp at all cost"
God bless,
Kevin
Perhaps it was the memories of times that passed me by.
My life I did reflect as I read this sweet post,
The times I have wasted haunt me the most.
The next time the snow falls from the sky,
I will remember to play before I should die.
Okay girl, you da bomb,
Thank you so much for this moment in time.
Congradulations!!!
All I can do is try to make up for the "Snowments" in time that I wasted back then...Thank You
- Nancy