The Median Sib

I found this quote by Helen Keller: “Although the world is very full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” Another favorite quote by Helen Keller is: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.”

I had mentioned in the last post that I had dinner last night with two coworkers. We got together because of Nancy. Nancy lost her husband two years ago to cancer. She nursed him through some awful times, and then was left to take care of her two sons by herself - both young adults - late teens/early twenties - the youngest still living at home. At the beginning of this school year - during the anniversary week of her husband’s death - she went upstairs to check on her son before leaving for work. He was still in bed asleep, and so she decided to let him sleep. She went on to work. She got home that afternoon, went upstairs and found him exactly as he had been when she’d left that morning. He was dead. Now, almost two months later, the autopsy report still isn’t back. Other than satisfying curiosity or determining if there is someone to blame, the autopsy results don’t matter. They won’t change the fact her son is gone - that she is going through every parent’s worst nightmare. And I can’t do anything for her except just be there and cry with her - and get together occasionally for dinner to get her out of the house and with friends again.

Tragedies like that make me both thankful, and they also scare me. Thankful for my close family and for my healthy children and grandchildren. Scared because maybe my life has been too easy - maybe life is just waiting to whallop me with a major blow. That sounds pessimistic, but it isn’t. I don’t dwell on it. It’s just a thought that goes through my mind at times. Is there such a thing as being too lucky?

I’ve had a good past few days. I had the birthday dinner with my family on Sunday. Monday I had dinner with two friends who also happen to be coworkers. Then I had dinner with my best friend tonight - lots of girl talk . Lots of dinners, huh? To top off a nice few days, I went by the outdoor equipment store tonight and bought everything I need for my camping trip. So when I get home Friday and take the grandkids back to their mom and dad, I’ll be ready for my first camping trip! Yea! I’ve been investigating places nearby where I can camp, and I’ve made my choice. I’m looking forward to it, and apparently the weather is going to cooperate with me.

After work yesterday, I drove by a house for sale - a GORGEOUS house - way out of my price range but still fun to look at. It was a for-dreams-only home - on 21 wooded acres - very scenic and restful looking. Just spectacular. I fantasize about living in a place like that. I saw deer along the road on the way there and on the way back.