Hello to you beautiful readers
Every week I curate little moments of Ordinary Magnificence and then lovingly fold them into a collection of words for you to open at your leisure. A variety of content, always sent with love, care, compassion and appreciation for all that you are.
I write this as I travel at speed through changing countryside. On a seat, in a carriage attached to a train fleeing though Darbyshire. We are bound, my son and I, for Durham and then to Edinburgh on a Universiy scouting mission.
I find train travel rather joyous. The opportunity to peek inside little episodes of stranger's lives, some obvious and openly given and other moments snatched whilst they are quite unaware. A grimace as they pour over their screen (annoyance? Irritation?) A long searching look out of the window accompanies a lung-filled sigh (Release? Resignation?).
In my head I'll make up stories as we journey in our shared space together, where they're adventuring to and from, who they’re meeting…pinning wholly fictitious tales to theses strangers that I'll likely never cast my gaze upon again.
As we speed past fields, abandoned farm equipment, galloping in and out of urban sprawl the light in the carriage changes. At times I’m able to see my son wholly mirrored in the window, tapping away on his screen, buried in A-Level course work. A rare treat to look upon him for more that a snatched moment. He is entirely unaware of this motherly scrutiny. His neck is long and strong, his shoulders broad. Air pods in lugs, he inhabits this man-boy body, betwix and between adolescents and manhood.
In the mirrored light of the window the floral daisy's of my neighbours jumper are emblazoned vividly. The white and green stitching etched like a glaze, almost more vividly than the fabric version. A young girl talks excitedly on her phone in the space between carriages, throwing her hands about in wild expressions as she leans closer and closer into her phone and sways side to side with the jaggedy motion of the carriage. A double tap of an apology on my arm as I'm bumped ever so slightly by a man and his bulging luggage…..
It is life in movement.
I have a wee selection of books keeping me company today (I always pack too many. Fearful of being caught out without a good read…horrors of horrors). I start on this wee beut, it’s a slender little chap, so I'm limbering up to polish it off on the lengthy train jollies. It tells the tale of two Women meeting in Norwich in 1413 amd already I'm soothed by the auld language and phrase.
It starts with the phrase “ when I was a child of seven summers….” I'm immediately transported to considering life in summers not years. The summer where it was so hot the pavement leaked little tarry plods, or the one of my new purple bike that sped me onwards to meet my bestest chum for teen blethers and nonsense. Or the summer that brought the haze of all encompassing grief after the unexpected loss of my Dad…which bled into autumn and me walking through enormous gates and starting my own University journey.
Summers upon summers upon summers as we twist and turn through the carouseling scenes of life.
What will summer hold for you I wonder, dear hearts?
I hope it's filled with love, for you and those you love.
I'm Off to avail myself of the train cafe….
Until next time, dearest friends
Sending love and light from my heart to yours beautiful people.
Pam
p.s. If you feel you’d like to share my substack with other like minded soul, that would be most marvy. Thank you.
I love to hear your thoughts or insights - so please do drop a word or two down…. and if you click a cheeky wee “like” apparently it helps folks find me work…. so there’s a thing.
*All content is provided as general information and is not intended as specific health advice or guidance.
For more Pam here’s my: Ordinary Magnificence Website
Thank you for your wonderful musings Pam. Thoughtful and insightful. I look forward to them x