You Drive

I didn't drive you to school today.  You drove yourself.

Ninety percent of me is happy for you.  You earned your license, your car, and your dad's trust.  Your purple car makes me laugh and I'm glad to provide Arizona Diamondback fuzzy dice for pop.  

Five percent of me is battling worry.  Will you be safe?  Will you get in an accident?  Will you hurt yourself or someone else after making an inexperienced driver's mistake?  But I can talk myself down pretty easily from these worries, placing my trust in you, your maturity, and God's perfect will.

What about the remaining 5%?  I'm grieving.  I'm out of a job, no more chauffeuring you.  It was while driving we talked sports radio, To Kill a Mockingbird, politics, and everything.  On some days the ride to and from school proved to be our only time alone, just you and me.  So, I'm feeling selfish and sorry for myself.

Because time with you is precious.

Love,

Mom  

X Factor

You talked me into watching the X Factor.  I'm glad.  At first I didn't get it.  All I could see were the performers facing criticism and weeping as they failed.  It seemed falsely dramatic and rather cruel.

Listening to you talk about what you see changed my mind.  Now I see these (mostly) young people taking a huge risk on a huge stage.  They face their fears and failure.  These performers are talented and have the nerve to think they can out-talent the talented person standing next to them.  Or do they out-work that person?  Or see the mystery, or luck, of it all?

Now I see the attraction of this competition, hard work, giving your all, suspense, failing, surviving, and sweet victory.  Stuff we all face.  Those still standing seem to be enjoying the ride while it lasts.  And we're enjoying the ride with them.  

Love,
Mom

Souls and Thanksgiving

The month of November flew by and I didn't post. But I really wanted to.  So here are the most important points that come to mind (backdated.)

Each November we ponder All the Saints who have gone before us and are cheering us on to heavenly victory.  We pray for the souls who have gone before us, who are suffering.  We give thanks for all the good we experience on this earth, especially good people.  Remember them.

November is about remembering...thanking...thinking of ends and preparing for beginnings to come.

Love,
Mom