Wednesday, January 17, 2007

The Circle Game

One of my favorite photos is situated in the middle of a large wall collage of photos that hangs on the wall. It's not a family portrait, nor some posed shot at a milestone family gathering. It is a photo of my three sons, at the ages of two, five and eight. Three beautiful squeaky clean smiles peering out of a shower stall door that is just opening.

What makes this photo so dear, is the timing of the photo. Just staring at it I am swept back to those days and that hour of the day...."O.K. boys, dry yourselves off and hop into your pajamas...I'll meet you in bed for your bedtime story!"   Through the door, I could hear their excitement...."oh boy, I hope he tells us a good one"....

They were still small enough to fit on one bed and curl up around me. A chorus of requests would eminate, "tell us the Toys R Us story," "tells us the story when we got Locked in McDonalds" "tell us the story when we were shrunk and put into a video game"......No, you won't find these stories in your Storytime books....Every once in awhile, I would hand sew a night time tale to custom fit their imaginations. "The aiplane story"!....yes, that was one of their most requested......My, how they loved watching airplanes taking off and landing at the airport!  In this particular story, I had taken them to the airport for an afternoon of watching. While there, they wandered onto a jetliner that was idle. They sat in cockpit musing at the hundreds of dials and switches. The older boys dared the younger one to flip a switch. The youngest flipped the switch and the door to the jet closed. "Whoa, better flip it back" they beckoned. When the youngest did, the engines of the jet began to turn..........and each subsequent flipping, the wheels were set in motion for taking off........till, they finally did!

The story continued, how I grabbed a pilot and we jumped on another plane and took off after them! We lined up the planes , wing to wing, and I described how I would open the door to walk across to get into their plane. My five year old would always ask..."dad, would you really walk on the wing on of a jet at 25,000 feet high to save us?"   "yes" I would smile.."that's how much daddy loves you".....(sneaking in my ultimate message!)...  I boarded their plane and took them in for a safe landing.  "Did you punish us?" The oldest would ask...."No T.V. or nintendo for a year!" I firmly stated. The little one would pout, but it wasan accident, we didn't mean to fly the plane"...."I know" ....."and while no one got hurt, ...you did wander off away from Daddy....so, that's in part what the punishment is for"....

   The scent of their freshly washed hair, their skin so soft, their heartbeats so tender, we would lay a few minutes more before each one was escorted off to his own bed. They would close their eyes knowing they were protected, and loved beyond measure.

I don't think I have known anything so eloquent as those moments.

I look at that photo, and do not say "what a shame those moments could not last" but rather, I muse,  "what a shame it would have been, had I not had one of those moments"

and the wheel spins round......

Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like, when youre older, must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and dawn
Were captive on the carousel of time
We cant return we con only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round, in the circle game.     Joni Mitchell

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow...and all these times I have not visited..I went back tonight for old time sake..and took me back to the beginning why I so love your entries here!

so missed by me.
Gem :-)

Anonymous said...

Hard to know what to say other than..."What a beautiful entry".   They are lucky boys.   So where's the photo, huh?
(by the way, I love that song...)

Nancy

Anonymous said...

I want to see the picture too.  Tell us a story!   I know what you mean I made up stories for my son as well and he remembers them too.  He said he couldn't wait until I told stories to his children...one day.... xox Barbarai

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your sweetest memories of your boys. I bet your imagination is one that they carry on today.
I wish you peace today.
Ellen

Anonymous said...

I hope your sons read this.  It is a treasure.
<is dying to see photo :-) ~Mary

Anonymous said...

Odd...I was just sitting here thinking of whether to "talk" to my daughter or write her a letter.  She asked something of me so special (almost 5 years ago, to be in the delivery room with her) that I had never dreamed to ask my mom (mom and I were never close).  I've never told her much that meant to me and I want her to know how special it felt being there.  I'm fairly sure her dad has already told her, but I know I need to tell her, too.  Thanks for sharing your memories....it helps wake us all up sometimes to how special our children are....no matter how young or old.  It's never too late to let them know how much they mean to us and how we would do most anything for them because of our love for them.  Loved your story.   :)  

Hug,
Cindy

Anonymous said...

Lucky kids to have a dad like you and lucky you to have 3 wonderful boys.  Memories are so precious.   I'd really like to see the pic.   After reading this, I might even add a couple of old photos I have of my kids in my journal.  :)
http://journals.aol.com/mrsm711/LatteDah/     Tracy

Anonymous said...

What a precious memory.......
You must have been one great storyteller, I know you are, now!!  Very few fathers take the time at night to read stories, but YOU.....you made them up!  You & your boys were blessed to have those wonderful moments.
Thats why God gives up grandchildren, to find more special moments! Over the years we've learned to appreciate these moments & cherish them even more.  
Wish I could take a peek at that photo...; )
Marie

Anonymous said...

memories can be sweet. They are precious, and so fulfilling.
You are a sound dad!
Valerie

Anonymous said...

Oh Marc, how I wish I had the ability to make up such wonderful stories! Tis a gift to be sure. And you're right, the sad thing is not that those times didn't last forever, the shame would have been if that had not happened at all. I try to remember that as I'm getting my "bonus round" with Austin.
Hugs,
Melissa

Anonymous said...

There is nothing more wonderful then a good imagination shared. I hope your tradition continues throughout time, your stories are remembered and no one ever forgets the Airplane story!!!
Rebecca

Anonymous said...

I thought there was an entry called Picture... (?)
Valerie

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful moment in time. I can really relate to this entry Marc. Thank you for sharing. Hugs, Martha :-)

Anonymous said...

Yes what a shame it would have been if you had never had those moments to treasure and remember ~ and how lovely for your boys to have have had you to tell them bedtime stories ~ Ally

Anonymous said...

Sounds as if you have some beautiful memories of those days.  The song printed is a perfect choice for this entry.  When I hear that song, I also think back on those precious times I enjoyed with my kids when they were little.  I do miss those special moments, but like you, I feel blessed to have those memories.  Tina

Anonymous said...

I love that saying "what a shame it would of been if I had not had one of those moments." Powerful words, they speak of wisdom and compassion. I actually wrote it down to keep close by. (Hugs) Indigo