Just Look Around

I've been feeling down in the dumps a bit lately. Nothing serious, just kind of feeling "out of sync". The last 24 hours has slapped me in the face really hard, though.

Last night Joni and Abby were both gone. Abby was at work and Joni was at the school. About 9:30 pm we heard a knock on the door. I looked out the window and saw a sheriff's truck parked in the driveway. My heart just sank. After locking up Oscar so he wouldn't attack the sheriff I opened the door. After asking him what I could do for him he asked if my husband was home. He was, so I went to get him, thinking the whole time that I did not want to hear what that sheriff had to say. When Mike came to the door the sheriff asked him if he was Mike Mitchell. He said yes. Then the sheriff pulled out a paycheck notification and handed it to him saying it was found down at the corner gas station. Mike thanked him and I wanted to go let Oscar loose so he could bite him for scaring me so badly.

I'm so thankful all my kids are safe and healthy.

Three days ago a 21 year old young man that we know just suddenly died with a seperated aorta. Last night a 19 year old was playing softball with his friends and climbed the home run fence to retrieve a ball. He touched a power line and was electricuted. You just never know when things are going to change, so for right now I am very grateful all my kids are alive and well.

Tonight after work I went to Walmart. When I was in the checkout line I happened to notice the people in front of me. The man, about 24, we've known for probably 15 years. He had brain cancer as a baby and had a big chunk of it removed. He gets along, but struggles a great deal. There is both mental and physical impairment.

I was curious about the young lady with him. I could tell she was an aide of some kind. She reminded him to pick up his change and the bags, and was very patient with him. Suddenly I realized that I knew her! She had changed drastically. She was also about 24. In high school she was vivacious and outgoing, with wholesome "girl-next-door" charm and friendliness. Her voice was beautiful and she often performed solos with the select choirs. Today, though, she looked haggard and mousy. Her blemished splotchy face and stringy drab hair was such a change that at first I wondered if it was indeed her. My heart went out to her. Our eyes met and I smiled a hello. Her eyes were infinitely sad. All the spark seemed to be gone.

I wasn't surprised. A few months back we heard that her husband was put on trial and convicted. He is now a registered sex offender.

Literally 20 minutes later I was in the grocery store picking up a few additional items and then went to the check out line. Someone got in line behind me. I had to do a double take. She had put on quite a bit of weight since I'd last seen her, but I knew this woman also. She and I took a pottery class last summer, and she also was in a geology class right after. My heart broke for her, too. It hasn't been but a couple of months since her husband was arrested for beating their baby. We talked for a couple of minutes about classes and school, and then I looked her in the eye and asked, "are you okay?" She started to tear up and shook her head yes. I didn't want to be the one to start a break-down right there in the checkout line, so I just said, "I hope you are." She sadly nodded her head.

When I start to feel the blues and that life just isn't handing me a very fun basket I need to remember today.

Things aren't that bad at all.

In fact, there pretty darn great.