What if I had never had to work?

I heard the slight clinking. As I fought to reconize the sound I realized it was most probably later than it should be. I looked around the room. Oh, now I know, it is the sound of a spoon stirring one's sugar and cream into the cup of freshly poured coffee. Now I know I have overslept. My daughter has made coffee. I sit up. 7:15am. Morning came way too early as I had to go in last night and do a case. I never realized how tired I am of being on call. Maybe, I am tired of working? I stumble into the kitchen and see the fresh face of my daughter and in that instance I hope she doesn't have to work as hard as I have. The polka-dotted cup steams up with the hot coffee and I wonder what I will make for breakfast. Pancakes, bacon and eggs. I love breakfast. I scramble to wake-up as I break the eggs. Being off on Wednesdays is such a sweet priviledge. I wonder if mothers realize their gift of mornings with their family. I have gotten up a 5am for 25 years. Rushed to get ready. Rushed to feel prepared. I shove the sleepiness to the side and spread the bacon carefully across the skillet. The sun starts to cover the top of the table and bounce up into my eyes. I mix the pancakes and turn the bacon. 30 minutes before hitting the door to school. The coffee has brought life back to my legs. We will eat in the dining room this morning. The warm rumble of the life reminds me to count my blessings and not my "what ifs." Isn't it funny? How time becomes a measure of minutes, until minutes subtract from one's years. Ain't it funny how time just slips away?