 |  |  | |
| helen losse |  | 1. The Perfect Day, Autumn I open my eyes to a pollen-less breeze, smell bleach from freshly washed towels, lavender from a garden tub, outlined with candles. The smell of coffee wafts down the hall toward the bedroom. I eat pancakes and fresh blackberries, at the breakfast no one spoiled with the smell of eggs. It is autumn, and the trees are full of color. My mother will join me for lunch and a walk. On this day she can walk like she did when she was 70, and as far. We will laugh together and buy pumpkins from the "Pumpkin Church." A gentle breeze blows moves the tree-tops. We are warm in the sun.. I am in a car as the sun sets- on my way to a dinner I didn't cook. I will drink red wine with my meal. Not yet sure what to have. I will drink coffee and enjoy gooey chocolate for dessert. On a perfect day, calories don't count. 2. In Session Summer has come and gone. School's in session. Air is cool enough to breathe. Time to "live it up"-sans the kiddos. 3. Summer, Back Then In my teenage years, I coveted a red bathing suit-$25.00 at Macy's- to which my parents had said, "No." I got one that was blue and cost about half. If I'd gotten the "better" suit, my life would have been different. I'd have been wildly popular and at least one cup size larger. Guys noticed things like that back in the 60's. 4. When Chocolates Fly Donald and Jessica sit on a blanket near striped monkey grass. The children eat chocolates from a Tupperware bowl, part of a set their mother got hosting a party to help a friend, who's just getting started in the Tupperware business. Jessica accuses Donald of hogging the bowl. She threatens to tell, if he doesn't quit. But instead of giving in to the girl's threat, Donald grabs the bowl and puts it under his butt, making it into a food-chair, which absolutely grosses out Jessica, who's a bit too prissy anyway and truly afraid she'll get cooties. Jessica yells so loudly her mother comes flying out the door and slips on discarded candy wrappers.. "No more chocolates for you," she bellows at her children, who are both howling at their fallen mother, who rises, yanking the bowl from under her son, candy flying everywhere willy-nilly. 5. The Perfect Day, Winter Christmas morning the house smells of pine. The boys-old enough to be out of diapers- wear feet-pajamas. Soon torn packages reveal toy cars, books, games. Everyone got new slippers, so we wear them on our bare feet or over pj's. A toy train chugs. We snuggle. By the fire, we eat ham biscuits, grapefruit, foil-covered chocolates. After lunch, football. Then Bing Crosby sings "White Christmas" in an old movie. But sleeping, we miss the snow that has begun to fall in the movie & where Santa and his reindeer tromped last night. | |
| | | |