I'd forgotten what quiet sounded like

I work one day a week in our clinic--Thursdays. Today, my schedule was light. As I finished up and came out of my appointment around 11:15 this morning, I looked around and called out to Mark and the kids. No answer. Then I noticed a note on the Dining Room Table. I was greeted with this:



I wondered what I'd make myself for lunch and when I got to the kitchen, I found this:



So, I smiled at the thoughtfulness and did a little dance of joy. What would I do with some down time?!?

I did a quick check of my ever-growing email inbox. And then I changed into comfy clothes, put on some socks on this chilly, fall, blustery day, made myself some warm tea, and grabbed one of my favorite books. I sat down to my delicious sushi lunch. My chair was warmed by the sun. I ate while I read Emerson's essay on Spiritual Laws. Beautiful.

And that's when I noticed it. The quiet. Our house is over 150 years old and so solidly built that it does not creak. I could hear the wind, the ticking of our clock and the murmur of traffic outside on Main Street. And I could hear the sounds of my own page turning, my chopsticks touching my plate, me sipping my tea. Ahhhhhhhh.

Mark knew just what I needed. It's just what the doctor ordered. And in this time, not a single phone has rung, no computer alerts have sounded, no one has come to the door. It's so quiet. And I feel rested and refreshed.

And ready for Mark and the kids to get back. :)