going postal

February 15th, 2008

nyplvalentine2It’s not fair! Everything happens when you don’t expect it and at the very end when you want it the most!

This was my daughter, yesterday, at that hysterical place where well-laid plans go postal. Dear friends from Texas were about to board the plane for a weekend at our place when the flu bug arose in that most irrefutable indication up out of your gut and onto your Air Jordans. Our friends are now where they should be: still at home and on the mend. That’s where we are too, on the mend, facing a few days suddenly free and undone. She and I will find it, too, the fresh direction in just the two of us, holding hands, nursing root beer floats and indulging in what will be no small amount of retail therapy.

Friendship is like that, so reliable and yet still so unexpected.  As I write I’m playing the angel voice and sacred songs sent forth by my friend Sally Dworsky, who wrote her love hymns as our children romped in a shaded schoolyard like a litter of kittens, pure life and joy; be sure you have a listen. And then a secret heart, a handmade valentine arrived in the post from Beth, so faraway and yet her magic is today here in my grip; it is my ticket and I am using it right now, sending love to everyone, everyone by return mail, and with this solemn pledge.

Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

Love the one you’re with.

4 Comments »

  1. I’m loving the one I’m with – we just read your post together and we’re off to get root beer floats. (“Mama, what is a root beer float?”)

    Thanks for being there for me. More about Aviva soon.

    Comment by Jena Strong — February 15, 2008 @ 6:58 pm

  2. I completely understand your daughter’s anguish. I’m 27 and I still feel that way when people cancel plans due to unforseen circumstances. Retail theraphy does help lessen the sting though.

    Comment by Someone Being Me — February 15, 2008 @ 8:31 pm

  3. Illness has ruined some trips for me too. Sorry to hear it.

    Comment by Shelli — February 16, 2008 @ 2:57 am

  4. I’ve had days (in the last year) when people have cancelled plans and I’ve about burst into tears myself. So when I say to the wee ones, “You are sad because you wanted to see NNNN and now we can’t” I do know what I’m talking about.

    On the sickness front, my son’s preschool class has now had 25% of the class out with th barfing thing. And last time I co-oped (helped out in the classroom) I’d say that a majority of kids had to have their noses wiped every 20 minutes or so.

    –Chris, currently enjoying a sickness free day with no particular plans.

    Comment by Chris Austin-Lane — February 16, 2008 @ 8:13 pm

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