The Perfect Moment

I was standing on the rocky bank of the Chattooga River, icy water swirling around my calves, when I truly appreciated what it means to live in the moment.

 For that little span of time the outside world faded away, like the fools gold winking from the sandy shoreline, offering up false promises. 

 Only this moment was real.

The sun played with the cool breeze against my face.  I curled my toes deeper into the heavy silt beneath my feet and let the sounds of the river tumble over me.  This moment was all that mattered.

 This one peaceful perfect moment.

What did you do for Mother’s Day?    Did you go anywhere special?  Or better yet, when was the last time you let Mother Nature wash your cares away?

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posted Thursday, May 20th, 2010 | filed under A Day in the Life...

About the author

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Darcy Crowder is a PRO member of Romance Writers of America, and has served on the board of Georgia Romance Writers, where she continues to be an active member. She is lucky enough to live in a log cabin in the woods, surrounded by family, nature, and endless inspiration for her novels.

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23 Responses to “The Perfect Moment”

  1. #Carol Burnside

    Yeah, I kinda went somewhere special. I was on a cruise. On that particular day, I toured the ruins of Pompeii and enjoyed the countryside around Naples, Italy by train. It was lovely, though I really missed talking to my kids!

    Lovely picture. Lovely moment. Smile

  2. #1Linsey Lanier

    Gorgeous picture, Darcy. And the word picture, just as gorgeous, is just what I needed to start my day. No, I didn’t do anything special on mother’s day. But I did think of my PF&HT sisters who are mothers. Smile

  3. #2Tamara DeStefano

    Oh Darcy,
    How beautiful…not just the picture, but your words too. You are truly a writer.
    I visited family for mother’s day, ate like a horse and laughed alot. It was a nice day.
    I commune with nature nearly everyday. My house backs up to a large swath of woods (the forrest is land locked so there’s no chance of buildings taking away the beauty.)
    I see deer, at least once a week. They graze in my back yard. I see racoon and opossum, squirrels (Susan May would cringe at that last one). I have bird feeders all over so I hear and see birds everywhere.
    And every so often I walk through the woods to the river and sit on the bank by myself. It’s wonderful.
    I love my sweet little house and the nature that surrounds it.
    Thank you for reminding me not to take the beauty for granted.
    Lovely post Darcy.
    Have a gorgeous day,
    Tamara

  4. #3Maxine Davis

    Darcy,
    I feel a little more peaceful just having read it. And a beautiful picture!

    To me, there is nothing more calming than nature’s running water.

  5. #4Tami Brothers

    Loved this post, Darcy! Love the picture.

    I was lucky this year and had both of my moms (mom and mil) out here for my graduation. So we tried to do something a little special even though we were pressed for time.

    We took them both (and my Aunt Patsy) to the Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette, Georgia. This was where the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, was filmed. My mom got a taste of some real southern cooking when she ordered catfish and fried okra. It was yummy, relaxing and we even found a couple of copies of the movie.

    We spent the rest of the day relaxing after a crazy weekend of company and just enjoyed the time together. I loved it.

    Tami

  6. #5Sandra Elzie

    Mother’s Dad was relaxing. It started at church, but since all my kids live in other states, Hubby did the lunch thing.

    Love the picture. Right now we’re at the beach. Very calming and awe inspiring. The ocean has so much power and is so vast (it goes on and on) However, I prefer a stream in the woods…and nature’s little creatures…well, except snakes.
    Sandy

  7. #6Sally Kilpatrick

    What a gorgeous picture!

    My Mother’s Day wasn’t the most stellar. For some reason, the Boy Scouts decided that it would be the perfect weekend for a trip to Charleston, so the boys went away. When they got back, I did get tickets for Harry Connick, Jr., though, so I can’t complain. I suppose I’ll celebrate Mother’s Day in June at Chastain with a bottle of wine and Harry–that sounds better!

  8. #7Debbie Kaufman

    Lunch with my entire family was the highlight of my Mother’s Day.

  9. #8Marilyn Baron

    My Mother’s Day was more of a Mother’s Day weekend. My older daughter lives in New York so I didn’t get to see her, unfortunately. But I did spend a lot of Mother’s Day weekend with my other daughter. She now lives in an apartment with her roommate so anytime I get to see her now is special. On the Saturday before we went to my hair salon and she got her hair cut for Locks for Love. Then we shopped, which is one of my favorite pasttimes.

    That night we ate at my favorite restaurant, The Fish Market and the next morning, actual Mother’s Day, we had pancakes at the Original Pancake House. You notice that most of my activities revolve around food and shopping.

    So just spending quality time with my family was wonderful.

    Your word picture and your picture was wonderful.

    Carol, you’ll have to tell me sometime about your trip to Italy. I remember visiting Pompeii and I loved it.

    Sandy, have fun on the beach.

    I am looking forward to going to the Beach for Memorial Day and just relaxing and looking at the ocean and reading on my new Kindle.

    The ocean, a lake, a river, water of any kind is my favorite scene.

    Thanks for a beautiful post.

    Marilyn

  10. #9Darcy Crowder

    Carol! I’m so glad you’re home and can’t wait to hear all about your trip and see the pictures. Someday I’ll get to Europe…until then I’ll live vicariously through my friends. Smile

  11. #10Darcy Crowder

    Thanks, Linsey. This was a very impromptu camping trip over Mother’s Day weekend. I’d never been to this particular spot before (hadn’t been back woods camping in over 20 years either!) But I had a fantastic time and was so glad I went!

    Tamara, your home sounds lovely. I live in the woods too. I don’t think I could stand living anywhere without lots of trees and little creatures. The one thing I’m missing is that river you mentioned. Now that would be too perfect. Smile

  12. #11Darcy Crowder

    I totally agree, Maxine. I love the sound of moving water. It was after this trip that I decided I needed to get a recording of water sounds to work by – very relaxing.

    Tami, it sounds like you had a perfect Mother’s Day. I’ve never been to the Whistle Stop Cafe. We LOVE the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, in fact, we just watched it the other day. Smile

  13. #12Darcy Crowder

    Sandy, sorry you didn’t get to spend Mother’s Day with your kids…but it sounds like you’ve got the perfect hubby. Smile I’m trying to spend every opportunity with my kids before they slip further into their busy lives…it’s not easy these days.

    Sally – Charleston for Mother’s Day. You should have gone with them! If you’ve never been, you need to visit. Charleston is one of my all time favorite places. In fact, hubby and I are planning a romantic anniversary trip this year.

  14. #13Darcy Crowder

    Debbie – an day with the entire family is a blessing, and not always easy to accomplish. I bet having the grandbaby there made it all the more special. Smile

    Marilyn, what a wonderful weekend you had. Smile How cool that your daughter donated to Locks of Love. You must be very proud.

  15. #14Dianna Love

    Darcy -
    What a wonderful thought and image to go with it. I really believe in living in the moment. Love all the wonderful Mother’s Day stories…I gave my fish an extra treat. Smile

  16. #15anna

    Very nice: For that little span of time the outside world faded away, like the fools gold winking from the sandy shoreline, offering up false promises.

    The time I live most in the moment is when I’m skiing. That’s why I love it so much.

    Mother’s Day? MaPo Tofu and an amber necklace. East meets Eastern Europe.

  17. #16J Perry Stone

    You do know, Darcy, that living in the moment is one of my life-long goals …

    and writing like you just did.

  18. #17Tammy Schubert

    Sorry for posting so late. Time got away from me today.

    The picture is breathtaking. Living in the moment with nature in this manner restores the soul.

  19. #18Susan

    Darcy,
    Wonderful picture. My husband’s family has a family reunion on Mother’s Day so I went to that and then drove to Brimingham to see Norah Jones in concert. She was great. I hope to see her again soon. I had a outstanding Mother’s Day.

  20. #19Darcy Crowder

    Hi Dianna! Thanks for stopping by. I can’t imagine you any other way than living in the moment. Smile

  21. #20Darcy Crowder

    Hi Anna. I’ve never been daring enough to ski – never actually had the opportunity either. LOL. Water rafting and snow ball fights are about my speed.

    Thanks J! But you’re not fooling anyone. Your own work is lovely. Smile

  22. #21Darcy Crowder

    Tammy: Living in the moment with nature in this manner restores the soul. Absolutely! If you’ve never been on the Chattooga you should give it a try – camping, rafting – it’s beautiful.

    Hi Susan. I love Nora Jones! Sorry I missed seeing her. You’ll have to tell me all about it sometime. If I could sing, that’s what I’d want to sound like, all bluesy and romantic.

  23. #22Bruce

    Very nice: For that little span of time the outside world faded away, like the fools gold winking from the sandy shoreline, offering up false promises.

    The time I live most in the moment is when I’m skiing. That’s why I love it so much.

    Mother’s Day? MaPo Tofu and an amber necklace. East meets Eastern Europe.