It's the Little Things

            "I don't know what to do," I cried to my husband on the phone, pacing around my car yesterday.  "Why does this happen to me!"

            After some laughing and an offer to stay on the phone with me while I drove home, Officer Buckles gave me the only advice he could think of from his office, "You can get in the car and drive home, or you can walk.  I don't see any other option."

            And right at that exact moment of hanging up, there she was...like my guardian angel.  One of my grade partners had miraculously returned to school.  "Let me guess," she began, hopping out of her car, "Both car doors open...floor mat on the parking lot...there's a spider in your car?"

            Boy, does she know me!  "Yes!  It was huge and it ran up under the dash when I opened the door," I half cried, half laughed because of the ridiculous sight I knew she was looking at.

            "Allow me," she commanded, taking charge of the situation.  Head first she dove into the car, reaching her hands up behind the dash, and then sat, sticking her sandaled feet up there as well.  "You know that thing is already hiding in the engine," she said, careful not to repeat the 's' word.  "You'll be fine.  But why don't I drive your car home and you follow me in mine?"  As tempting as it was to accept her offer, I knew it wouldn't solve my phobia.  I thanked her profusely and we laughed together til it hurt, once again recognizing that it's the little things that, when put together, make our lives beautiful, interesting, and complete.

            Last time I blogged I was in the beginning stage of a very normal pattern for many parents; running through the motions of high school graduation and all that it entails.  My youngest was graduating and I was in a tizzy wondering how I would survive making his final bagged lunch.  As it turns out, he made it easy on me.  The night before the big event...the final lunch...one that would have included a sentimental note from me,  he informed me, "Hey, Mom, don't pack a lunch for me tomorrow because a bunch of us are going out for barbecue after school."  And there it was...done...and as I stood there, frozen, I realized that the grand finale had already happened that very morning.  Do as a worm and breathe, I remembered.

            The week that followed also included many milestones, and with the help of 'little things' I made it through.  My son, the one who denied his mother the final bagged lunch, turned 18 on Friday, went to his senior prom on Saturday, graduated on Wednesday and left for beach week on Friday (yesterday) with the family car...and I'm happy to report that all is good.

            You see, just an hour after sending him off to beach week, I arrived at school, a place where so many 'little things' happen on a daily basis that help to blend life's puzzle together.  As our first grade team gathered together to say hello, we looked at what each of us was holding in our hands and burst out laughing.  We all had the same idea and brought treats to share with each other.  And over the course of 10 minutes and bites of homemade cookies and cheesecake, we relished another moment made, another 'little things' moment to cherish.