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Friday, February 24, 2012

{this moment} : : oversized

Pigeon's Mom loves this tradition begun by Amanda of Soulemama:
"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."


We would love to share your moment, too!
Leave your link in the comment section below...
Happy weekend!

Friday, February 17, 2012

Valentines for Pigeon : : 2012

At just four months plus one day old, February 14th didn't mean much to Pigeon yet. It meant more to Mother now that she had a Pigeon to make a valentine for. Truthfully, what she really liked about it was the idea of making valentines with Pigeon--for cousins, neighbors, grandparents, friends... But little Pigeon wasn't quite ready for that.

Someday you will make a Valentine's mailbox, Mother said. She remembered making her own in school when she was a little girl, how they all had to bring in a shoebox on a special day during Valentine's week. The whole class would decorate together in a frenzy of pink and red construction paper, white paper doilies, and glittering stickers in the shapes of hearts. A teacher or room mother would help cut a slit in the top for deliveries, and the post boxes would sit on the desks during the Valentine party.

We were allowed to have sweets at our parties, back then, she said. Parents would send in cupcakes and cookies on trays. And you could still tape chocolate hearts to your valentines... In anticipation of a cupcake or a foil-wrapped sweet, the kids would run around delivering their messages and treats to the shoe boxes. Each person would bring cards for everyone else in the class; it was the one day when you might get something nice said to you (in writing!) from someone who didn't usually like you very much. For a whole afternoon, at least, everyone felt safe and important, showered with love and friendship and hope. 

Anyway, I like you VERY much, Mother thought, looking at Pigeon while he slept. And so she used a little money she'd set aside to buy him a valentine--a new book for his library. At the bookstore she'd browsed the shelves of the Valentine's display, but found the holiday books scant in story and fat in price. Instead she found a book on another shelf that made her smile, for it was about two friends and their adventures together. The pictures were familiar to her, by one of her favorite illustrators. This is Valentine enough for me, she thought, even if it isn't done in pink and red.

Mother also bought Father a carton of tea and a nice broad mug for his new office. The next day she wrapped everything up in red and white, gathered up the cards that had come in the mail, and set them out on the table before Father came home for supper.

Later Pigeon helped peel the tissue paper away from his gift and ran his hands with happiness over the glossy cover picture of Frog and Toad on their bicycle. Mother and Father were both delighted at Pigeon's early love of books. This one has a whole week's worth of new stories in it, all in one book, Mother said. Pigeon also got cards from people all over the country. The grandparents and great-grandparents tucked money into their notes for Pigeon's piggy bank. Cousin Emily wrote him a special note with the new writing she'd learned in school. Father was pleased over his tea; Mother got a card and a sack full of coffee (the type she was too cheap to buy for herself) and smiled.

That night they read about Frog and Toad and snuggled in bed, and soon Pigeon was once again asleep and dreaming. Mother was glad to have this chance to delight him with simple gifts, when everything to him was new and exciting, and he wasn't burdened with the thought of giving her anything in return. How wonderful, she thought about Pigeon, to be so happy, so free to enjoy what is simple, to be able to give so much to the world without trying.

{this moment} : : daddy time

Pigeon's Mom loves this tradition begun by Amanda of Soulemama:
"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."


We'd love to share your moment, too!
Leave a link in the comments below. Happy weekend!

Friday, February 10, 2012

{this moment} : : towering

Pigeon's Mom loves this tradition begun by Amanda of Soulemama:
"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."


We'd love to share your moment, too!
Leave a link in the comments below. Happy weekend!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Pigeon Sleeps

Mother watched Pigeon sleep and wondered at his peacefulness. The long lashes, the rosy cheeks, and the eyelids like crocus petals with their lavender shine--these things, plus the occasional contented smile and sigh, spoke to his health and happiness, and for these she was grateful. Pigeon's pudgy fingers, as usual, lay close to Mother's chest, clutching at her shirt collar and grazing her skin with his knuckles. Sometimes when he slept Pigeon would slip his hand under the fabric and rest his palm on the soft place between her shoulder and collar bone. She didn't mind that he wanted to know she was there, that it made him feel safe and secure in the world. It was one of the simpler gifts she could give him, free for the taking while it was wanted and needed.

With these sorts of habits for Pigeon's naps, Mother had less time to get things done in the day. But she supposed the sweetness would run out in time, as Pigeon learned to run about on his feet and run a life of his own away from her side; so, it wasn't bad to enjoy what she had of it now. When Pigeon did finally fly away, she knew she'd be proud and happy and sad. She would, when it happened, remember this-- the sound of his breath and the feel of his heart, the little fingers grasping to be sure she was there. She hoped by then he'd know without doubts that no matter how far away he went, or she went, her love would always be there for him.

Friday, February 3, 2012

{this moment} : : friends

Pigeon's Mom loves this tradition begun by Amanda of Soulemama:
"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."
We'd love to share your moment, too! Leave a link in the comments below. Happy weekend!