“Hurry, sweetie. Grab your backpack and get in the car,” I said, rinsing the breakfast dishes. “We need to go.”
A few minutes later, she and I were buckled up—her in the back seat—and heading to school.
It was the same drive every morning, five days a week, for years. Long and winding, the road to school led us through an established residential area with large homes surrounded by gorgeous yards.
The landscaping, like the houses, was old, so we would see mature trees blooming in the spring, greening in the summer, turning colors in the fall, and sleeping in the winter.
Only a sliver of sky was visible through the trees above, but still, we often caught a glimpse of the sunrise in breathtaking colors: purples, pinks, and oranges.
Singing along with the radio, we would talk about her day ahead. Maybe today was the spelling bee or her friend’s birthday or library time. If she was reading, I would be lost in my thoughts, often about her and mothering, or marriage or family or friends. But then I would drop her off at school with a kiss and a prayer, and return home, through the beauty, in the quiet car.
Now that she is in college far away, I would love some of that drive time back. I would love to find myself following the curves of that road again, pointing out the blooms on the azaleas and the colors in the sky, listening to her, and dreaming with her. Instead of rushing, I would breathe deeply as we wound our way through that canopy of trees overhead.
Of course, I can’t get those days back, and that’s okay. Even though our commute often seemed ordinary and mundane, the time together was a precious gift. The beauty we saw along the way helped me slow down, pay attention, and enjoy those early-morning moments with my daughter. Although I spent a lot of time in the car back then, it was indeed time well spent.
What is your commute like? Do you notice any beauty along the way?
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