On Christmas morning, I opened my eyes to the sound of my children’s excited voices. I swung my legs out of bed and reached for my ponytail holder and glass of water. My gosh, I thought, these two objects are the first and last things I see every day. We are the three amigos. I’ve been wearing a ponytail almost continuously since my daughter was born, six years ago. And no matter how much water I drink, I’m always thirsty. I fill up a glass at night, with the intention of drinking all but a sip or two before bedtime. But as soon as I set the glass on my bedside table, I’m off again. I remember that there’s an email I forgot to answer, or that my son needs waking for a trip to the bathroom. In the morning, the glass is still half full. I loop my hair through the nearly-threadbare elastic band.
Maybe it was because on Christmas, we were visiting my parents’ home in New England, where a window sill served as my bedside table. But I saw my water glass and ponytail holder in a new light. Two lovely circles, one empty, and one full.
Thanks to my step-dad, Will, for the beautiful photo.
For lack of attention, a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day.
-Evelyn Underhill
I balance my glasses on a stack of tarot cards by my bedside, although sometimes I put them on my book. They are the first thing I touch in the morning and the last thing I put down at night.
Beside the bed, on the little tabletop there, are various things that stand for spiritual touchstones as I shed the cares of the day: hand lotion , chap stick, a tin of lavender balm, an IPod that plays “Rain and Thunder”. Such simple pamperings – reminding me of being tucked into bed as a child. If during the night, I awake with Baroque worries, in go the ear phones and “Rain and Thunder” transports me back to long ago summer nights listening to rain falling on the tin roof of our farm house. Bliss ! – drifting into a reverie towards sleep.