Bubbles

The older I get, the more cognizant I am of the rarity of beautiful, magical moments. You know the ones—a glistening bubble of perfection which hovers in the air for just a moment before it pops. They are fleeting, but you know they existed long after they dissipate.

I recently went on vacation with my husband, children, and parents. In the months of planning leading up to this adventure, my husband and I worried about how to balance the realism of our budget with the loftiness of our vision. With one child graduating in mere months and age creeping up on my parents, I knew this window in time might be our only opportunity in the impending future. We decided to just go for it—plan the vacation of our dreams. If it took six months to pay off our debt, the investment in creating a core memory for our family would be worth every penny spent.

We weren’t wrong.

The end of each day brought a fulfilling exhaustion resulting from hours of exploration and fun. While our days were filled with awe and joy, each one held a specific moment which shined brighter than all the rest. Three teenage boys silent around a dinner table, except for groans of gratitude as the spice and salt of a taco hit their tongues. The eruption of laughter, so deep from the belly that it halted our ability to walk. The sight of my mother unabashedly diving into the crashing waves with her grandsons. Bubbles of perfection.

I recognize that vacations aren’t attainable for all. Magical moments are, however. They float across our awareness in everyday life. Often, we are too busy to notice their momentary presence. The sound of your children singing in the back seat of the car. The sight of your spouse immersed in a culinary experience—humming and swaying to the background music as they sprinkle the exact amount of spice over a simmering pan. A dragonfly gently hovering over a blooming flower. Sitting on a patio, sun warming your face, as your girlfriends double over in laughter.

Notice these bubbles before they pop. Sear them into your brain.
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Life gives us little gifts consistently and often.  Even though the bubbles are so delicate that they break as quickly as they are formed, we can hold them forever in our memories.  We can come back to them again and again, especially on difficult days. When my children no longer live in my home, when my parents are gone, I will have these moments crystalized in my mind forever. And then, I will continue to look for more—with my friends, my spouse, and even on my own.