Saturday, January 9, 2010

Contentment

This is another SOOJ post. For those of you who don't know what SOOJ is, it means straight out of the journal. From time to time I copy things exactly from my journal and post them unedited. If you like this, you might click on the SOOJ tag at the end of this post for more.


Saturday night
at home
January 2, 2010

This is what contentment looks like:

It is two people who have shared a long love. Two people who sit together in a room, each happy to pursue their own pleasure. It is a low hum of voices as they reach out and briefly draw the other into their realm. It is the quiet accompaniment of a dryer stolidly doing its chore while you sit and ruminate. It is a good book, half read. A steady companion who does not mind its conversation being set aside frequently because you have other things you wish to think about. It is the cheery sound of applause that the red-faced ember men give the dancing girls in their dresses of flame tinged with blue. It is a perfect piece of music. It is a place to prop your feet. It is a kiss on the neck when your love gets up to stoke the fire. It is the funny way the star has gone crooked on top of your tree. It is the one more late night at home before winter break truly begins to end. It is a blank page and the scratch of a pen. It is the magic of language that turns emptiness into a perfect evening, captured forever.


The image is from a little corner in my home. I love, love, love art and have a few small collections of original watercolors. These were painted by Dorothy Klyver, who became a very good friend after I wrote her a thank you note telling her what her work meant to me.

28 comments:

Jana said...

So beautiful I love the pictures you create of the fire and the book being a friend...I love it all, I do adore your writing, I know it's your heart, so just know you are adored miss Relyn.

Andrea said...

Beautiful and so very touching.
Blessings, andrea

Sarah said...

It is visiting friends and reading their beautiful words. So lovely Relyn. I especially loved the one more late night, the good book half read and the kiss.

Heather Mattern said...

I LOVE it! My journals are mere ramblings, THIS is truly lovely!

Laura said...

Beautifully written! That reminds of Elizabeth Berg's writing in that you have expressed something in words that are thoughts in my head. Thoughts that are important and that I could not put in writing. Thank you.

♥ Amy said...

A truly beautiful word picture, Relyn. That's my idea of contentment, too, almost down to the tiniest detail. You expressed it so well.

Unknown said...

I love your word pictures--the fire was so enchanting! I love the way you appreciate the everyday-ness of what was around you and describing it to be so beautiful and special!

Hindsfeet said...

Couldn't agree more, Relyn...You've described an evening in my home to a T (except that our fireplace turns on and off and does not need to be stoked ; ) )...

...It's a gift to love the "little" things, isn't it?

S. Etole said...

how blessed you are ... and how very descriptive

Dutchbaby said...

You not only described contentment, but you described intimacy beautifully. Sigh...

beth said...

so honest, so warm, so much love....

Beth Herring said...

I must say, I love the sooj writing. I myself am a lover of words as it pertains to my walk with my Savior.

Many blessings sweet one!

Roban said...

I love this.... And the line about the applause that the "red-faced ember men give the dancing girls in their dresses of flame tinged with blue" was poetic perfection!

Lovely moment you captured here!

Meri said...

Oh how I miss the intimacy of being together in a room, fire crackling, each with a book or deep thoughts. Sounds like perfection as well as contentment. Celebrate!

Anonymous said...

such wonderful words...it is always comforting to visit your blog.

Char said...

gorgeous journal entry. and so very true

Marilyn Miller said...

Contentment is reading your thoughts and thinking on these things. Contentment is holding my new kittie and hearing the purring from the scratches behind the ear.

elsa said...

contement is reading something so beautiful that you can't stop smiling! like me, right now! wonderful piece.

Rita said...

Contentment means so much in our lives. Thank you for the reminder, Relyn. You've written in journals for a long time. I can only imagine how much Sloane will enjoy them when she reads them. You always have very lovely things to say. I love you.

Ragamuffin Gal said...

Oh.. how I love reading the pictures that you paint through your words! You are my favorite author ~ I could read your posts for hours my dear!

Sue said...

Well that is just beautiful. I think this must be why I don't keep a journal...mine would never read as musically as yours.

Sue

Georgianna said...

How beautiful and evocative, what a wonderful way to capture charming and precious moments. I will enjoy many a visit here, I am sure! Georgianna

Jaime said...

This is so comforting.
I especially love *It is a low hum of voices as they reach out and briefly draw the other into their realm.*

So love that. :)

Elizabeth Halt said...

it is reading the words of someone depicting contentment in a way that makes me sink into a state of contentment as I read. thank you for that.

Patti said...

The picture and post truly warms my heart. Ah, what contentment you live- you lucky girl!

Isabel said...

Simply beautiful!

robin-bird said...

i love seeing the little corners of your home and being able to hear/read about he song in your heart. you are one amazing woman relyn...a gift of a friend, wife, mother, teacher and citizen.
xo

Dandy said...

Someday we'll have a fireplace, I fantasize about sitting beside the fire.

What a beautiful moment Relyn. Are you writing a book? You should you know.

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