My Life's Work

Yesterday we spent the whole afternoon at the beach. All the way till the sun went down. Ginger ran up and down the beach. Paprika and I chased her. I told Paprika that she had to be Ginger's buddy and watch out for her. It's a position Paprika takes very seriously!



We dug sand tunnels, ran in and out of the cool Pacific waters, and chased the sea gulls. I took my old camera...the "throw-away" camera, since me plus sand equals very bad things for cameras. It still does the trick!




Even though it feels more summery than ever, the crowds have left the beach, and we had the whole place to ourselves. It was calm, peaceful...the kind of place that lends itself to reflection.



I have been watching my friends and old classmates go off into the bigger world and do amazing things. Become wealthy, successful, and even famous. I wonder about the potential in me. What did film school and law school mean? When am I going to go off and make my mark?



I know what I do on a day to day basis may seem small to some. It may seem like the type of work you could just give to a nanny. It might seem like it is always so easy, and effortless to raise young children and that my biggest worries are what to fix for snack-time.

But, it's not.

It is challenging in ways I never thought, and rewarding beyond measure. I am on my own most of the time with the girls, as Mr. Mustard works really hard to give us the life we have...and both our families live far away. I am not complaining - it is our reality and it is the life we have built together. It is a life I love.

I don't know if that screenplay will ever get written, or if I will go join the law firm of Blah, Blah, Blah & Blah. My photographs may never hang in galleries and instead find their homes on refrigerator doors.

My focus is right here, and it consumes me. My time, my energy, and my love. Some would say it's a bad thing, and I need a life. But, my life is here, and I am happy with it. Content. It is a good life just as it is, without the awards and fame and hoopla.

We make our own hoopla!



After a long time chasing Ginger up and down the coast, we went to the pier and to the little "Requarium" (as Paprika calls the Aquarium). The touch tanks were full of our favorites.



And we couldn't wait to get our hands wet.



After the requarium, we watched the surfers from our perch on the pier.



Paprika told me that she want to be a surfer, and "Mommy, can I please, please surf?"

I said, "When you're bigger."

And she said, "But, I am bigger."

I am not ready for my Paprika to go out into that big blue ocean.



We watched the sun set, and felt the warm, golden rays on our skin.



We left as the sun slipped down low in the sky. Paprika held my hand off and on as I carried Ginger (and our bags)! I felt loaded down but light at the same time.



And it dawned on me. Even though much of the load of mothering is hard, exhausting, and the hours are so very long sometimes, there is so much reward in the day to day, the moments of unexpected surprise, and the beauty of these simple days.



When I go to work every day, right here, I am doing my life's work. And it is beautiful, worthwhile, and priceless beyond measure.