Bigger Picture Moments: Love as a Sound

A blueberry candle sputtered near the sink: pik, pap, pik.  Every time my wet hands traveled over its flame, moisture dripped into the wax or onto the wick.  I placed slippery clean dishes on a towel to dry: clank, clink.

In the oven, red-skinned potatoes and cloves of garlic roasted in a drizzle of olive oil: poppa-hiss.  Steam wafted from beneath the tilted lid of a pan of brown-sugared carrots: shuuuushhhh.

Lauren sat splay-legged on the floor, building a tower of play-doh cans: thunk. thunk.  My phone was at her side.  She'd rather listen to downloaded music than play any game-apps, and she chooses well:

In the night, the stormy night, she'll close her eyes
In the night, the stormy night, away she flies
And dreams of Para-paradise
Para-paradise, Para-paradise....

She sang the words under her breath, high and sweet: para-para-dots, para-para-dots.

Landon was stretched on his tummy on a crazy-colored quilt.  The clanging, hissing, thunking, singing wasn't enough.  He needed to squeal, long and wild: yeeek! hiiiiyeeey!  His left leg bent and kicked, bent and kicked, and so he rocked, squealing while nobody watched.

In deep concentration at the kitchen table, Mia colored a picture, crayons grating against paper: shicka-shicka-shick.  Her mouth twisted with each curve of color -- lips guiding hands.  One foot kicked a rhythm on the wooden chair rung: thwop. thwop. thwop.

Hands drowning in soapy water, listening, I turned to look at my life. 

This could be para-para-paradise
para-para-paradise
para-para-
Paradise...

All of it put together -- the comfort, the growing, the music, the routine --

it sounded like love.

In case you want to hear the song, too:

This month for Bigger Picture Moments, we're encouraging you to explore the beauty and simplicity of LOVE. Let the Valentine's hearts and rosy colors cloud your words as you share your moments -- a memory, a confession, a proposal, a feeling -- and link up. Melissa is hosting today; please head over to share your moment and read others!