Required Reading

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Forever young.



"May your hands always be busy 
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation 
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful 
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young 
May you stay forever young."

~ Mr. Bob Dylan

____________________________

Yesterday was filled with laughter and youth. It involved kickball and freeze tag and popsicles. Someone ran off to hide and someone else went to seek. Someone stuck their foot in the middle of a circle and someone else eenie-meenie-miney-moed until someone was finally left as the last one. 

Which meant they were "it."



And that's okay because in this game,  being "it" was just fine.




Those someones were children. And those someones were also mommies and daddies who slowed down from all of their grown up hustling and bustling long enough to remember to be children-at-heart. 





It made us all remember what it felt like to be in that place in life. It also reminded us of how much kids love to see our inner-child. Because they do. They so, so do.




 We get so busy, you know? So worried about the things that we have to do and the things that we haven't done. Or the things that we have done and whether or not they were right.

Are we giving them enough attention? Are we working hard enough to be the best parents? Are we making wise financial decisions? Did we remember to apply to that camp by the deadline? Will we get that promotion?

And so on and so on.


But not on this day. On this day we filled every single inch of the atmosphere with as much innocent joy as we could. Because that's what children who are cherished and safe should have. Innocent joy. Untampered by the constant heaviness of life and reality.

At least most of the time they should.


I'm just thinking. We could learn a lot from children. We could learn about wonder and curiosity. We could remember to take turns. We could roll on grass without worrying about chiggers. And we could throw our heads back and dance like nobody's watching. 

Or at least not care or consider if they're watching.





So that's exactly what we did. We lived and loved and laughed like kids. 



And this went on and on.



Until dusk began to fall and the fireflies began to twinkle.




And it was perfect and joyous and memorable in the purest sense of every one of those words.


And everyone went in when the streetlights came on.

Just like when we were kids.



May you build a ladder to the stars 
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young 
May you stay forever young.


***
Happy Sunday. May you, too, stay forever young. 

Now playing on my mental iPod. . . .both of these versions of that song on one continuous playlist.

First, Mr. Bob Dylan sings it here all quirky and Dylan-y:

Next, Mr. Rod Stewart sings it all raspy and beautiful here. . . .

. . .and this version including Mr. Bruce Springsteen just for Ms. Moon and Shugsie who are both fans.
Springsteen-Dylan "Forever young" by betterday

11 comments:

  1. Perfect song. Perfect sentiments. Perfect advice. Perfect evening, it sure looks like.
    One of the things I like best about being a grandma is that I have let my dignity go entirely when playing with my grandson and thus, being childlike again.
    It is a joy.

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  2. The Rod Stewart version always makes me cry.

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  3. I concur - perfect. You do everything so perfectly perfect... A compliment. Anon Jo

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    1. Oh Lord. That's totally not true. But that day was perfectly perfect for sure.

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  4. Awesome post and jealous that you have your fireflies already - we don't have ours yet but when we do I will chase one down, catch it and let it go - sending it your way!

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  5. What a picture-perfect day! I am so happy you got a chance to put aside all the burdens of adulthood and be carefree and playful, even if for a few precious hours or even minutes.

    One of my fondest memories from the time I spent at my grandparents house is of my grandma and one of her neighbors coming out and skipping rope with us kids in the middle of the street one day. She was 57 years old and she was UNBEATABLE!

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  6. Words to live by.

    Maria, fellow Meharrian

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  7. I do love me some Dylan -- and that song is perfection! I really liked this post -- I agree with you about how our children LOVE it when we act young and happy, play like they do. I know that I haven't done enough of that in my sons' lives. I want to do more, before they get too old. Thank you for reminding me to at least TRY to stay young. And thank you for reminding me to allow them to be care-free. And finally, how did you grow up in Los Angeles without fireflies?

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  8. And smile.

    Those were the last words that got cut off. My hand held is acting up.

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  9. This post makes me smile so freaking hard!! I have so many memories like this with my parents, aunts and uncles, and friends of the family. I can't wait to build the same types of memories for me son.

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