Time’s Rare Masterpiece

Schedule used to mean: routine.

Dress up for work. Kiss the three sons good-bye. Work. Overtime for a client meeting or an ad shoot. Go home. Ask the three kids how their day went. Late dinner or short catch-ups with the hubby. Sleep a little. Then wake up to the same routine.

Now schedule is the opposite: iffy.

It depends on driver Sammy’s free time. If none, I stay home and read and write and write. Or I fill up my empty jars with some tunes on the piano, some crossword puzzles, some arts and crafts, and some (okay, lots)  nibbles or munchies.  

Then came one day when son #3 was out of town. That freed up Sam for one whole day. Son #1 had online classes at home, so that freed up Mother Teresa from keeping watch and answering calls at home.

“Le’s go out and have fun!” I declared.

Off we went to the mall—to a coffee shop. With Gen Z’s around us, we indulged ourselves leisurely in caramel latte and pastries. I got lost in but enjoyed the conversation with two people whose interests are contrary to mine.

It was my and their first time to share a table and spend the afternoon without worrying about the clock ticking.  

In three hours, grace painted colors in different lines, hues, and shades. And time rendered a rare masterpiece.  

P.S. A coincidence: this happened on 6-26-26, a palindrome!