A Good Day

I opened my eyes this morning to sunshine which immediately made me happy! I am amazed by the healing power of the sun. Unfortunately, I didn’t just spring out of bed and start my day full of energy and renewed spirit. I decided instead to roll over and catch a few more z’s. Which is the reason when I opened my eyes for the second time I was glad I stayed in bed. My darling daughter and her best friend decided that Mother’s Day could not start without breakfast in bed. I was delighted to see my breakfast delivered with hopeful expectation. I enthusiastically munched on my un-toasted pop tart, goldfish crackers and a granola bar and reveled in the fact that Mere remembered my rule of no unsupervised cooking. Although the meal was a little dry without something to wash it down, I was grateful for the meaning behind the gesture. I am a mother, daughter, wife and juggler of life’s many events and while it may be a “greeting card holiday“, it is a day to celebrate mothers. I realized, not for the first time, I am appreciated beyond measure even when I fail to see the forest for the trees. Motherhood is an awesome responsibility, after all, shaping another human into a productive, healthy, moral citizen can be a bit daunting. (It is a good thing I'm an eternal optimist.)

Today I saw my children smile, laugh and play. I walked with my daughter after a nice spring rain soaking in the sounds and smells of spring. I held my teenage son’s hand, if only for a moment and laughed with him. I also kissed the man of my dreams. It was a good day. Waking up to sunshine was only the beginning…

The Untamed Spirit

She came into our lives as a visitor, we borrowed her to help us catch a red squirrel that was wreaking havoc on our house. At the time, she seemed sweet but I didn’t think too much about having a dog permanently. A few months later, she was back for good she’s been my girl ever since.

We were lucky that she picked us to live with because she was a pretty independent gal who liked to roam but gave her affection freely. Her stubby two inch legs were fast and strong, she had a gentle disposition, but was a fierce hunter. She loved belly rubs and pats on the head and took pleasure in rotating beds throughout the night. She never failed to greet me as I came in the door and there was great comfort in knowing she was glad to see me. The kids and I are convinced she said “hello” when we walked in the door. She was a super dog, able to put a smile on even the grumpiest face with a simple wag of her stubby tail.

She always trusted me to take care of her and even though I didn‘t want to, I made the difficult decision to have our family dog, Macey, put to sleep. It had been a long time coming, but that didn’t make it any easier. Right up until her very last breath, she was comforting me. I can’t shake the feeling that she knew what was about to happen, and hope she’s at peace.

I watched them as they held her steady, shaved her leg and injected the medicine. She fought just a little. The entire time she was looking into my eyes. I told her that I loved her and that she was a good girl and finally thanked her for being our beloved family pet. Last night as I headed to bed, it really hit me that she’s gone. I reflexively went to the door to let her out but she wasn’t there. When I woke up this morning I felt sad at the loss. I guess letting go is part of loving your pet. They are our constant companions ready for adventure at every turn and asking so little in return for their grudgeless affection.

Hopeful

Well, the election is over, the new President is in office and the world it seems is waiting for what comes next. I felt truly depressed after W won the 2004 election. I was not a huge fan of John Kerry, but believed that America was headed in the wrong direction with Bush as the commander-in-chief. For the first time in my life, I really felt angry that some American people could turn a blind eye to what was really going on in our country and re-elect an unpopular president. I made a generalization that Republicans would blindly follow the elected official off the edge of a cliff because it was more about winning than what was best for the nation as a whole. It took the American people too long to wake up and get concerned, but at least it happened. During this election I was afraid that the old boy network would win again just because their voices seemed louder. I am glad I was worried for naught. This time, the people really spoke and it wasn’t just Democrats who elected Barack Obama. Like many, I feel hopeful, if still a bit weary, that change is coming. It starts with the people at the top and trickles down. Change is possible, if only because people dream of a better future. Americans as a rule are resourceful, innovative and powerful in their own right. We need to forget about party lines and reach out to each other to effect change.