Tuesday 28 April 2015

Gathered Together





Image by Stuart Tonge




On sunday afternoon, after visiting my mum we decided to take a walk in an orchard nearby before heading home. We parked the car under a pretty, blossom heavy tree that immediately began showering us with its soft petal confetti. We each separately remarked how sweet it was and after watching the boys catching the flying petals for a little while, we then went on our way. When we returned to the car after our walk in the woods and a meadow and through the orchard, we found our car's roof covered in the prettiest display of blossom. Beautiful pastel pink flowers scattered perfectly upon our roof. I then shouted 'we're getting married!' as I often do when I see flowers on our family walks. At that moment our boys smiled and then my eldest said 'look up, there are wild birds'. We each looked up as the blossom carried on its showering petal serenade and as I dismissed my boy's comment, suddenly I saw exactly what he did - two green parrots. 'There are two more above them mum!'. Indeed there were, four green parrots in the local park near my mother's house! Where they had come from I do not know, but they were together and they looked lovingly at one another and groomed one another. We even watched them rub their beaks together and kiss. It was quite something. We eventually peeled ourselves away and got back into our prettied car and in a sentimental moment, I couldn't help but think that those parrots represented each of us in our family and I began thinking of the four of us, flying free perhaps travelling and turning up somewhere unlikely. Clinging to one another for support, needing only each other to face the times ahead. As we pulled away and caught our last glimpse of the blossoming tree with the four wild birds, I said to my hubby. 'We should renew our vows and get married again'. He said 'yes!' enthusiastically and as we began talking about our twentieth wedding anniversary coming up later in the year, our eldest said 'Can I marry you right now? I think I've read about people being able to do that as long as you use the right words'. So right there and then he uttered some eloquent words and some familiar ones and asked us to kiss, and kiss we did along the quiet lane leading out to take us home. Then our youngest boy decided to take part too and he chose his very own words to speak to each of us. At times his words can trip and dance, pirouetting and taking a little time to spill out, part of the dyslexia legacy that his father has passed down to him. However, much like his father does, he found the perfect words to capture the sentiment and the occasion. Again he too gave his permission for us to kiss. And just like that, before our boys, we got married and it was as simple as could be and it was a moment. A small and quiet moment that rested between the noise and the daily humdrum. Never to be forgotten but carefully stored in the pages of my mind, pressed like you do a flower, as a happy keepsake.




Image by Stuart Tonge




Mama and More

6 comments:

  1. Oh wow Katy, just wow. I am speechless and crying into my lunch as I read this exquisite post. This is beautiful beyond words. Thankyou so much for sharing it. congratulations on renewing your vows in the most perfect way (and if you do decide to do it again publicly, I'd love to be there as I was the first time!) xxxx thanks for linking to #AllAboutYou xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your lovely words Zaz! It's particularly special to be sharing them on #AllAboutYou since you have known me for so long, and since as you say you were there the first time around! Don't worry, the Grumbars will definitely be invited if such a gathering takes place again! xxx

      Delete
  2. You write so beautifully Kate you really do! What a magical post about a wonderful family moment. Just stunning #allaboutyou xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is truly heart warming to receive such wonderful feedback! Thanks so much for stopping by Caroline xxx

      Delete
  3. Just utterly beautiful, thank you for sharing this and to Zaz for tweeting me to read it x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Vicki! It means a lot to hear those words from someone whose words I greatly admire! Thank you also Zaz for promoting this post! I love this #AllAboutYou community xxx

      Delete