starlocalnews.comIn The Community, With The Community, For the Community

Your Hometown:


Archives > Opinion > Star Staff

The Speed of May

Published: Friday, October 5, 2012 4:36 PM CDT
A few weeks ago, a friend surprised me with a lovely bouquet of flowers. Not just any flowers, though, but ones she had hand-picked from her garden and arranged in a lovely vase, which she also adorned with a bright fuchsia bow. Dusty Miller, petunias, roses nestled together for the perfect spring bouquet.


"Wow, they're so beautiful," I gushed. "What's the occasion?"

"It's May Day." (May 1st for those of you not in the know.)

And so it was.

Now, as we've hurtled into June at a pace near the speed of light, I've been sitting back and wondering what happened to May.

Am I the only one?

We opened May with the anticipation of our college son finishing his exams and heading home.

We sifted through mountains of clothes and old magazines and Christmas stuff to organize items for a massive garage sale. Our kids are heading out on mission trips, and we're trying to raise funds for them to minister to needy family in the Rio Grande Valley and kids with special needs at a family camp in Oklahoma, respectively.

We prepped for the end of school: studying for exams, finishing projects, finding those elusive textbooks that have to be returned.

I served on a scholarship committee for our booster organization. (What a privilege! I encourage you to take advantage of that opportunity if you ever have the chance.)

We worked hard to revive our sad-looking flower beds. We vigorously cleaned our porches and touched up paint and did minor repairs as needed.

Somewhere in there, we celebrated Mother's Day. I know because I asked for the gift of time -- not perfume or scented soap or a giant candle that will burn for three years or until a couple of bugs get stuck in the wax and I deem it too gross to burn and toss it -- and got it. My family graciously gave me the whole day together, and we cooked, ate, played games and watched a movie. Best Mother's Day ever. (Of course, I think I say that every year.)

I vaguely recall attending a couple of awards' ceremonies. I politely clapped for thousands -- OK, maybe it was only hundreds, but it seemed like many more -- of students as they crossed the gym to receive certificates for everything from academic scholar to UIL certificates to perfect attendance awards.

Everyone we ever met wanted to have a get-together or host a party to honor someone else. I baked, wrapped and delivered dozens of casseroles and plates of cookies.

Summer had to be planned, so I researched camps, downloaded and filled out forms, wrote checks and sent in the money. Church, sports, missions -- the kids certainly won't be bored!

Somewhere in there I managed to shop for groceries, cook a few meals, wash, dry, fold and put away a few loads of laundry, clean and tidy a house filthy from feet -- large and small -- traipsing through it every weekend.

Unbelievably, I also squeezed in a little work, some time with my husband and kids and a few hours of sleep each night.

I know why I feel this way in December. Too many additional things to do on top of the stuff I normally do. I just never expected to have to take a breath at the beginning of May and let it out at the end.

Where did May go?

Leslie co-authored A Scrapbook of Motherhood Firsts, which released April 10th. Visit her website and blog at www.lesliewilson.com.

Share this Article
Bookmark and Share




Article Rating
Current Rating: 0 of 0 votes!Rate File:
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Become a Registered User

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

*Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
*E-mail Address:
*Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

 
twitter Click here to subscribe to our newspaper
Submit a story Submit a photo Send a Letter
May 2013
Su M Tu W Th F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
Event Date:
May 22nd, 2013
Event Time:
9:00am - 8:00pm
Event Date:
May 22nd, 2013
Event Time:
10:00am - TBA
Event Date:
May 26th, 2013
Event Time:
9:00am - 11:30am