Tag: church

For my Oldest.

I can remember the first time I heard this song, released in September of 1992. I was 7.

The memory is not super clear but I know I was with my daddy. I know It was in a truck and I know it was Alabama. One of his favorite bands. He and my mom’s song is “She and I.” I can tell you that song, line by line, without any prompts.

The lyrics to “I’m in a hurry,” distinctly burned into my brain because it immediately reminded me of my father, he was always going. Always working. Always moving.

When my sister and I were younger he was a Volunteer Fire Fighter. He managed a dealership and was the right hand man of the owner. He was bouncing to Chamber functions, fundraisers and putting out fires, literally and figuratively. We lived on 80-ish acres, he and my mother were maintaining that too, in their “spare time.”

In short, this song hit close to home.

Today, Sunday, August 30th 2026. I slept in until 7:48 AM. Early that morning, I woke up twice.

Both times, bolted up right; startled.

Both times, half asleep, worried about my girls and the new kitten.

The kitten is staying in their bathroom. Did they put the toilet seat down, is the kitten going to drown in the toilet? Can the kitten even jump up on the toilet? All valid thoughts at 2:30 AM.

Turns out, they were fine. They were safe. The kids and the kitten. So I went back to sleep.

Church starts at 10:30 AM.

After I watered the plants, bottle fed Mili, the 3rd name the girls have given the feline, since her rescue earlier this week; made sure the outside cats weren’t going to starve, gave the dog her new favorite chow, nourished the small humans, made a cake for a later gathering, cleaned the kitchen and got some fuel for myself, it was 9:45 AM.

I did not do my hair, no time. I wore it up, which now required an easy/relaxed outfit, nothing fancy. I pulled on some flowy palazzo pants, ones with a stretchy waste.

The full moon and Aunt flow had come to visit, I was bloated, hence the cake making, I never make cakes. Alas, the stretchy pants were a must. I paired the burnt orange pants with this new collared white shirt that ties really cute in the back. Accompanied with some turquoise and orange earrings, the outfit looked perfect.

The kids were ready. I was ready. I turned off the bathroom lights, grabbed my coffee cup, took a sip and there it went, a big brown stain, down the front of my shirt.

It was now 10:17 AM.

I changed into another white shirt.

My oldest lectured me like clock work “Mom, you better not spill coffee on THAT white shirt.” I stated confidently, with my shoulders back, “Oh, I wont. Let’s go girls, we are going to be late!”

We pulled into the church parking lot at 10:28 AM.

I put the car in park and took another sip of my coffee.

As I took the cup from my lips, 3 large drops of hot liquid dripped down onto my chest, dark brown spots on a plain white tee, where my nipple would be.

A small voice started singing from the passenger side. “I’m in a hurry to get things done, I’m rushin’ rushin’ till life’s no fun.”

I looked at her and we smiled at each other. Nine years old. She knew. Just like I knew. No words had to come out.

I put the car in reverse. We left the church parking lot. We put the windows down and turned on Alabama.

We set out two Real Estate signs, signs that we would have rushed to put out after church, as we attempted to squeeze too much in before our scheduled play day at a dear friend’s home.

This evening, when I asked the girls what made their heart happy today, their answer was, “little unexpected adventures you chose to take us on.”

“All I really gotta do is live and die, I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.”

Slow down.

Peace- J.