Main Page Blog Getting Pregnant Articles Pregnancy Articles Parenting Articles TLOL Article Directory Chinese Gender Chart Pregnancy and Parenting Journals	Keep the Magic Alive by Rachel Smith Those magic days don't happen to everyone, I know that. But, one happened to me and I happened to notice. So, I thought it best to write it down so if one of those magic days should come your way you'd be sure to notice. You see, I'm sure I've had these magic days before but was just too busy to notice too. A magic day can start out like any other day. It can end up that way too, you'll see. This one did, but mind you it was magic. The kind of magic you rarely hear about but don't want to miss if it should happen to come around. I was driving my son to day care, just like any other normal day in a series of days which make up years and that make up my life. I had that feeling again. I'm sure you've had the one. The feeling that something was missing. I had that feeling a lot, so much I didn't bother to do the inventory. I was sure I had all I needed, diaper bag, purse, child, car seat. It was all there. A part of me, some small part deep down inside, knew what that feeling was. Something was missing. But not the something you pick up off the counter or drop into your bag. The something that has a deeper loneliness. That deep missing that touches your whole life. But, as I said I had that feeling before so I kept driving, not even really paying attention. Why would I have to? I'd driven that route every morning for countless mornings and was sure to drive it for countless mornings to come. I don't mean to sound like I wasn't happy, I was sure I was happy. I had to be. I had accomplished all the goals on my checklist. I finished high school, went straight to college, I even went on and got a Masters Degree. I met the man of my dreams, fell in love, got married, had a baby. Went right from school to the job I wanted and here I am eight years later, driving my son to day care every Monday through Friday. You might have a similar story. You might even be able to count some of the same magic days I count, graduation day, meeting my husband, our wedding day, the birth of our son, the babies first steps, first words, and so on. But today definitely was not on that original list. I woke up, fed the baby, showered, drank a cup of coffee, got ready for work, played with the baby, outlined the day with my husband, gathered everything, got in the car and was on my way to day care with that something is missing feeling. Just like every day. Waiting at the stop light it happened, the magic. You probably have a stop light like this in your town. One that seems to stay red the longest only when your at it. Well, this was the light I was at on this day like any other day. I almost missed it. Thinking about it later it's probably happened a dozen times before and I never noticed. But for some reason I noticed. Maybe it was that something's missing feeling I've had for so long. That feeling must have finally gotten so far to the surface that I had to figure it out. The stop light blared red, the news caster mumbled something about the weather, and just as I was feeling like I might be late the sun trickled in and a butterfly slowly nestled on my windshield. It was so small and so unaware. I took a moment to really look at the colors of it's wings. This delicate creature who had no goals achieved, no sense of something missing. This winged beauty that took the time to pause in the sunshine and rest on my windshield. This magic that had fluttered by and made my son giggle. The car behind me honked and I had to pull away leaving the wind to snatch the moment of this wonder away. My son still giggled as I realized it had happened. As I was pulling out of the day care and on the same route I take to work every day the sound of that giggle echoed in my ears and I knew I had everything. There was no deep lonely something's missing feeling. How had this happened? Would it happen again? How could I keep this? The thoughts rushed in. Would I be forced to start a butterfly garden just to keep the love of small wonders near my heart? I began to feel I was missing something again and then I laughed as my son had. I pulled the car over to the side of the road and searched in my purse. The check book and an eye liner was the best I could find but I had to write this down. I didn't want to miss it again. I had accomplished all my goals and was content. But that something was missing feeling kept coming back. As I had no concrete plans to return to school, switch careers or dramatically change my life I had begun to fall into a rut. The every day same old same old. I had achieved everything I ever wanted but still wanted more and didn't even know what more I wanted. Then this piece of magic came my way. This small creature shared it's beauty and made my son smile and I realized I had everything already. In that one moment of beauty I noticed the small things. I truly appreciated what I had. The day went back to the same as any other day. I worked and went back to day care, home dinner, bath, bed. The magic lasted but a few minutes. When I woke the next day I was missing it again, the something. I knew this would be another day like the others and I had been given my one magic moment. But did it have to be that way? I went back to my purse and pulled out the scribbled down words, "Keep the magic alive." The feeling left me and a smile was in it's place. I was content with what I had. I can make and set future goals and still be happy with my routine. It's a routine I choose and love. I can keep the magic alive by noticing. I breathed deep and enjoyed the aroma of coffee from the kitchen, magic. The kind of magic you rarely hear about but don't want to miss if it should happen to come around. So, I thought it best to write it down so if one of those magic days should come your way you'd be sure to notice. "Keep the magic alive." A Little About Rachel I am a full time wife, mother, and employee of the Macomb Park District. I enjoy writing about the things I appreciate in my life, my 21 month old son, my husband of four years, and my job providing recreation activities for the community.