measuring up
November 19, 2013 § 3 Comments
My son has been chasing my shadow, eagerly aligning his shoulders with my own in a race to grow into an expectation of stature. Amused by his enthusiasm, I measured myself against the kitchen door frame long graffitied with names and dates; allowing each child to gauge themselves against my name. Today, as my son shuffled past me, I knew even before my husband drew a new line that my son’s name would fill the space beside my own. In much the same way I marveled at his first steps I now found myself disoriented by the evidence of time, grateful for the space between his name and his father’s and the smaller shadow of my daughter’s form.
scribblechic 
My marking post was a corner of a wall that separated the undeveloped section from the basement from the developed part. When the time came to place a new door at that spot I found myself unable to cover it over. Too many memories. Instead I got a piece of straight pine, tacked it to that spot and carefully copied the benchmarks over to the plank. Four sets of marks; four lives now stepping out over the threshold of adulthood and a father now lingering by that doorway, watching hopefully, one hand resting on the scented pine.
Your last sentence is lovely.
Your post caused it 🙂