Did you know that “seize the day” is actually a pretty bad translation of carpe diem? A much better word in English is “pluck.”
Stretch out your hand to that low hanging fruit and grab it. Hold it fast in your fist. Eat it and let the juice drip down your chin.
Use both hands if you must. Don’t let it get away from you.
We almost didn’t go apple picking today. Anthony has had an earache and was up almost every hour last night. We were all tired and cranky. We had a late start. “Maybe we shouldn’t even bother to go,” I said to Dom. And then I thought about it. “Or maybe if they’re going to be fussy all afternoon at home anyway… well, we might as well get some apples out of it.” (Maybe I wasn’t quite that eloquent, but that was the gist.)
It took forever to get us all out the door. We got off to an even later start than I’d thought. Some days are like that.
When we got home we found out that Sophie hadn’t wanted to go apple picking today. Yet once we were in the orchard she didn’t want to leave. Our bag filled up far too quickly and then her eyes filled up with tears.
So we lingered a bit longer. And a walk down to the pond with just Mommy made things all better. She picked some clovers and discovered her smile again in their pretty purpleness.
To be honest, the Cortlands we picked were not the best apples I’ve ever had. They were firm and crisp, but not as sweet as I like. They were ok for eating apples, but none of the kids finished theirs. Still, they will make a good sauce.
Lucia loves any apples, even the not so sweet.
And there was a tractor to clamber over. A real big green tractor with yellow wheels.
Maybe sometimes you just have to grab the steering wheel and go. Take the adventure the day gives you even when it means a very late lunch.
Because you never know what adventure awaits.
And when we came home, very late, we were all even more tired than when we’d left. But still the smell of apples haunted us and the cool breeze and the taste of apples.
And tomorrow we will make applesauce.
What a fun day! I hope Anthony’s feeling better.
Thanks, Katherine. He did sleep better last night. I suddenly remembered that the last time Bella had an ear ache it wasn’t an infection and the pediatrician told me to give her some Claritin, and that did indeed help the ear ache. So in addition to Tylenol, I gave Anthony some antihistamine at bedtime. Maybe it was just that we wore him out, but my hunch is the medicine is what did it.