Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)

© irene waters 2014

This fortnight Lisa has given the prompt discovery for Bite Size Memoir. She talks about her discovery through memoir and her joy of watching her toddler discover. Life is full of discovery and reflection when you do discover. Some things discovered come as bolts of lightning out of the blue, giving clarity and life changing effects. Others are so subtle that you don’t know you have discovered them until you notice some imperceptible change in your attitude or behaviour. These are the intangible discoveries. Other discoveries are made with the aid of newspapers, travel and education to name just a few of the tangible ways it can happen.

So what discovery do I want to reflect on………

When my first marriage ended I returned home to live. Living in my parents’ house as an adult was a journey of discovery. My eyes now open to the love they shared. It was always there but as a child I had my eyes shut or my mind not yet awakened. There was give and take. Each conceding on somethings because it gave them pleasure to see the other happy. Conversations, little touches, concern for each other and my Dad always complimented mother on how she looked. When he died I grieved for mother losing a man who loved her totally .

© irene waters 2014

Perhaps I was thick as two wooden railway sleepers but the discovery did come as a surprise. Not because I thought that they didn’t love each other. They hadn’t changed. It was I seeing them as people, not parents.