when evening falls so hard

I started throwing pottery again about a month ago. (I’m absolutely no good at it, trust me.). But I enjoy it so. The clay glides between my fingers quickly and brilliantly. Similar to the way your hand feels when you sweep it into a river. . . peaceful. I like knowing that my clothes aren’t getting dirty with paint or markers but with earth. Red dirt, grey clay, white porcelain, it’s in it’s most basic understanding - playing in mud. And just when it starts to dry out, I can swoop my hand into my trusty bucket and slap on some water to transform it into a smooth, silky form that awaits the slightest movement of my hand. It’s forgiving. . . and I can’t make a mistake. I can begin throwing a mug whose fate just wasn’t meant to be so VIOLA! It magically can become a candle pillar instead. Who would ever know the difference (unless I blog about it)? Unlike most things, if my plan doesn’t go accordingly, I can re-create it and usually feel all the better for it. I suppose it’s a do-over and do-overs don’t come easy.

I could have used one today. There are days when no matter how hard I might try, things won’t turn out as I hoped. It wasn't the  worst of days, but could have gone smoother in the areas that mattered to me. You know those days when all is well until three o’clock comes around and it all hits the fan? Then – there’s the clean up. The aftermath filled with the plan B’s, apologies or quick thinking coupled with improvising.  

But clay? There’s no apologizing! I don’t have to hand hold it, get hurt by it or fret over what to do next. . . I just do it. What ever I want to. It’s the easiest do over I’ll have all day!

Then there’s the night. Bed time. Fluff your pillow, lay your head and emerge into the day’s ultimate do-over. Like the song says “all your dreams are on their way, see how they shine”. I may not see my dreams shining their sparkly little heads in the distance, I can’t even see the stars tonight, but I trust they are both there. In the mean time, I’ll enjoy the instant-gratification of the potter’s wheel.