back entrances

it was an i-didn’t-hear-my-alarm kind of morning. my daughter (and driver) woke up late and wouldn’t be able to get herself and her freshman brother to high school on time. so a quick plan b was decided: i would take connor first and then do my normal Bella drop off at her school--a little late.

not ideal. but it’s the way it goes some days, right?

we all have those mornings. we all have those days. 

i'll be honest, i am never one to be exactly ecstatic about a last minute re-routing of my morning. mornings are challenging enough getting everyone fed and packed up and out the door, who needs an additional hiccup or an extra drop off (especially in atlanta traffic)! 

because of this change, i approached bella’s school from a different direction and had to take the back entrance in. we live on the opposite side of the school, so i almost never come this way. but today i did. 

and this beautiful sight was my unexpected golden gift in the midst of our messed up morning. 

bella and i decided, between the mist and the leaves, it was like driving through a shiny canopy of gold. breathtaking. 

“back entrances” are like plan bs or unwanted hiccups: we never ask for them. but sometimes in life, are forced to take a different way and we find something good waiting for us even there. 

so i stopped. 

and, yes, in my pajamas, got out of the car and took this picture. (to the landscapers working nearby: thanks for keeping your laughter somewhat subdued). i'm posting this today, because i know we probably all need to [more often] acknowledge the beauty of life's back entrances.

p.s.  on the way home from this golden moment, the [golden] dog decided throwing up in the backseat would be a nice additional touch. 

good news: i happened to have a stray target bag nearby and i was able to catch the throw up. 

bad news: the bag had a hole in it. 

though i was kind of impressed with my vomit-catching-while-sorta-driving-bag-skills, so far, no obvious treasure found in this morning's throw up incident. 

but, be assured, i’ll keep searching for that silver (or gold) ... (or, er, um ... slightly greenish-yellowish) lining! 

still recovering ...