I sat in Starbucks this morning filling out new hire paperwork, wondering how many more times I was going to write my full name and my SS number. As I sat there I watched the world move around me, and I thought to myself: if I could just stop this moment I would. The smell of coffee as fresh beans were ground for a new pot, the laughter coming from a business meeting next to me, and a little girl’s squeal as her dad ordered her a hot chocolate with extra whip cream. This is the kind of moment I take for granted every single day. I move as fast as my long legs will take me and don’t take time to stop and just take notice of my surroundings. As I finished my paperwork and left the Starbucks , I realized that I was about to work my last week at my current job. In a few short weeks I am about to say goodbye to Chattanooga and most likely never look back. Once again, I have taken these last few moments for granted. These are the times when Anthony has beat me in Monopoly seven times in one weekend, the times my coworkers make me laugh over the littlest things, the times I scream county lyrics in the car while driving the roads in Chattanooga. I realize that I never stopped and enjoyed these moments.
Over this past year and a half I have taken most of my life for granted. I have been so concerned about me that I never paused to simply take in the world around me. When I was a child I always went to North Carolina in the summer and spent a week or so with my Nina and Pop Pop. When I was in sixth grade I said goodbye to my Nina, the woman who made sure my hair was always long enough to French braid, the woman who always made sure I had enough Barbies to play with, the woman who never questioned my love for soup, the woman who let me eat tomatoes right off the vine. My Nina was the first person I thought of this morning when I walked out of Starbucks. My Nina never took life for granted. She always paid attention to the little things. She made sure whoever came to visit would find their favorite drink in her fridge, even a Coke in a glass bottle for Larry. She loved dolls and had a huge collection, and she loved going to doll conventions. She made people laugh and smile, even if that meant putting salt and pepper shakers in their purses without them knowing. She made us laugh by dancing to Jingle Bells in April. My Nina still reminds me that I am loved and safe with her watching over me. Although she was not there to watch me graduate from college and she was not there to help me pick up my broken heart, I know she is with me and has always been with me. I have felt her presence as if she is holding my hand and has been with me through this whole situation. This morning as a light wind blew across my face when I left Starbucks, I felt as though a little reminder told me to enjoy the little things, to love with all I have, and to know that she is with me through any struggle I encounter.
My Nina, is my saving Grace (her name is Grace), but really she has helped me get out of bed in the morning when I don’t want to and tells me I am beautiful when I don’t feel it. She is the woman I hope to be when I grow up.
Much Love,
Your Molly Francis
Over this past year and a half I have taken most of my life for granted. I have been so concerned about me that I never paused to simply take in the world around me. When I was a child I always went to North Carolina in the summer and spent a week or so with my Nina and Pop Pop. When I was in sixth grade I said goodbye to my Nina, the woman who made sure my hair was always long enough to French braid, the woman who always made sure I had enough Barbies to play with, the woman who never questioned my love for soup, the woman who let me eat tomatoes right off the vine. My Nina was the first person I thought of this morning when I walked out of Starbucks. My Nina never took life for granted. She always paid attention to the little things. She made sure whoever came to visit would find their favorite drink in her fridge, even a Coke in a glass bottle for Larry. She loved dolls and had a huge collection, and she loved going to doll conventions. She made people laugh and smile, even if that meant putting salt and pepper shakers in their purses without them knowing. She made us laugh by dancing to Jingle Bells in April. My Nina still reminds me that I am loved and safe with her watching over me. Although she was not there to watch me graduate from college and she was not there to help me pick up my broken heart, I know she is with me and has always been with me. I have felt her presence as if she is holding my hand and has been with me through this whole situation. This morning as a light wind blew across my face when I left Starbucks, I felt as though a little reminder told me to enjoy the little things, to love with all I have, and to know that she is with me through any struggle I encounter.
My Nina, is my saving Grace (her name is Grace), but really she has helped me get out of bed in the morning when I don’t want to and tells me I am beautiful when I don’t feel it. She is the woman I hope to be when I grow up.
Much Love,
Your Molly Francis