Time in a bottle
The morning hits and I'm feeling as though time has stopped. There are no birds chirping, no cars, no cats. Nothing, it is just quiet. As the sun filters in through the blinds I know that it is morning. These glorious moments when all is still, I could almost feel like the day has stopped, nothing will happen if I don't move. Slowly I start to move and I see my cat, she's sleeping half on half off the chair. I feel a bit devilish, should I walk over silently and start the day with twirling her in the chair or should I leave her. So many choices, I tend to be nice for this morning and I walk over and pet her shiny fur. The sun is glinting off of her fur making the black disappear in a cascading amount of grey and silvery fur. She is warm, soft, barely breathing. I watch her for a moment as she moves her whiskers back and forth, is she testing the air? Slowly almost lazily she stretches her back up. I join her in her kitty cat stretch I arch up on my toes reach for the sky. I pet her once more before leaving to see the rest of the morning over.
I walk towards the kitchen, I open the fridge, nothing to eat. However, I'm not very hungry. I walk back towards the bathroom. I turn on the light, it still needs to be cleaned. Mentally I click another to my list, bathroom, kitchen, bedroom. I turn on the shower, waiting for it to heat up I slowly strip off my pyjamas. They need to be cleaned. I add laundry to my list. I step into the shower, it hits me for the first time, ahh, it feels so good. I start to rub the shampoo in my hair, thinking of all the things I need to do. the shower is over far to early. I step out and there she is sitting on the toilet. waiting to be pet. I reach over to touch, and her eyes widen with surprise, she did not realize I was wet, Poor wet kitty.
I go back to the bedroom to get dressed putting on simple yet comfy clothing.
It is time to start the cleaning. As I start with the laundry I feel a sense of relief coming on. The cleaning has started. I work on the bathroom next, putting everything away before I clean. I go throughout the entire house putting everything away. out of sight. as I put things away I see the dirt, the hairs, the grime. It evokes a sense of duty, and urge to purge the grime away. It will leave, it will not stay and mess my house. I grab a cloth with a vengeance and I scrub the counter tops, leaving the floors until last, as they might pick up more dirt whilst I clean. She stares as I hunt out her toys, putting them in various places out of the way. She looks for the broom as it is her favourite toy to play with. I sweep around, she looks on from her perch. I finished cleaning. Its quiet again.
The night approaches, tomorrow the day will be busy, filled with noise, hustle, work, people. Tonight though, my love will come home, surprised the house is clean. we'll retreat into our solitude and sleep until the next day.
When will the next quiet morning arrive? I am not sure. Might be a week, or a month, hopefully not a year. Then the day will stand still again, and it will feel good, to for once stop all the hustle and bustle of the busy days.
By Colette Chappell
October 1, 2004