Disconnecting

I just took 5 minutes of solitude on the screened porch. It may be enough for my fingers to come up with a few blog words. It's amazing how difficult it is to find quiet time in the midst of other people. Of course, that is the ultimate mind state I seek - I think of words like contentment, non-judgment, concentration, peace. . . states that have become easy at the Pond on the screened porch or inside by the window where I habitually find these mind-states. I have seen others who can disconnect easily, but I seem to have forgotten, if I ever knew, how to do so when other people are around. Especially other people who are simply living life "in the world" and not in contemplation. I'm reminded of my home in Huntsville, Alabama, when my two sons were 2 and 1. I worked it out so they were napping at the same time (occasionally) and escaped from the house to the back of our property where a tiny stream flowed with a tiny green plant (watercress - the name just came to me) growing in the edges. For a few minutes, a very few, I could find peace in my aloneness and then, my responsibilities as a mom came rushing in and I ran back to the house to be a mom again. Once again, it becomes clear that life is to be lived in stages. If I had known then, what I know now, I would have enjoyed that stage more even while looking forward to this one - which, of course, I had no concept of! I thought that after retirement, women either played bridge every day or they read the bible. (When do you capitalize Bible? Always?) I guess in this case, it's capitalized since I was really only aware of the Christian Bible. This stuff demands more thought. Perhaps I'll get back to it tomorrow.