Ever watch something happen as if in slo-mo, and you know
there’s NOTHING you can do to stop it?
That’s what happened to me today. Taking a break from proofreading a transcript
-- at home because it’s Columbus Day, of which I’m most grateful to Mr.
Columbus -- and decided to do something purposeful while on my break from the
monotony. Fact is, the transcript needed
proofread and finished. Today. But I can only proofread so long before I
start to itch and squirm and yawn and feel as if I’m ready to scream if I don’t
get up off my ass and switch gears a minute.
Vacuum. I’ll vacuum a
bit. Just a quick sweep… and then as I
turned to unplug the vacuum, I saw the impending danger, the cord having wrapped
itself around the beautifully curved base of one of my favorite -- if not THE favorite
-- candle holders. I watched from a few
feet away as it came tumbling forward onto the hardwood floor, me screaming
helplessly, “NOOOOOOO!!!!!” And then it
crashed. Countless little shards of glass
scattered everywhere.
Heartbroken, I knelt down and surveyed the broken
glass. This can’t be…!
But it’s only a candle holder? Right?
Which proves that “stuff” really can make us happy. Little simple “stuff,” like a candle holder. And besides, this wasn't just ANY candle holder. It was artistic and timeless. I truly adored it, thinking back on all the times I’ve watched double-paned
flames from a candle flicker through the beautiful metal tongs of the outer vase, warming my heart… often, its light chasing away whatever dark had begun to imprison my
heart.
Yes, light from a simple candle has that effect on me. I’m
not sure what that says about me.
Quirky, perhaps. Not important.
And now it lay broken on the floor. It was gone.
“Broken…and I don’t feel right when you’re away…” remember that
song? It came rushing into my head. Funny how that happens sometimes.
I’ve set it aside for now. And I’ll be on a mission from now on to find a substitute globe that might
fit inside its awesome curved, metal vase.
It won’t be perfect. But I can’t
part with something I love this much. It HAS to shine again.
