SO, the last couple of days have seen an uptick in luck for my little family, or maybe I shouldn't say luck. Maybe I should say blessings. Or karma catching up to us. I dunno.
Mom is feeling much better, after being plagued by allergies for a couple of weeks.
My sweet son was the most conscientious boy all summer, while working several different jobs. He worked at the concession stand, helped coach kids' tennis, and took in mail/housesat for several neighbors. Our pool is managed by a local pool outfit that I won't name here, but they are very professional and well-known locally. One of the managers there told Michael last week that if he can get the certifications to become a lifeguard, he has a job next summer.
I called and talked to the young man yesterday. He was extremely nice. He reiterated his job offer. Now we are going to get Mike trained and certified. He is quite strong and he's a good swimmer. I know he would do well as a lifeguard.
I told Michael at the beginning of the summer, there are going to be times at the concession stand when it's hot and stressful. Other times it will be really boring. Stick it out. Do what you need to do. One of the things that so impressed the pool manager was Michael's determination and his dedication to making sure he did his job right, and everything was handled appropriately. He also had time to chat with Mike and see he is a polite and sweet guy.
Michael had a really tough week last week. One of his close friends moved away. Michael didn't eat well and didn't sleep well for several days. I was so relieved to see him come back to normal, finally, over the weekend.
I am tickled that he is driving, and I can trust him to drive alone.
He didn't want to pose for the photo above, but he put up with my photo attempt.
We walked into the house right afterwards and I said, "So, how was it driving by yourself for the first time?"
Without missing a beat, he replied "It was just like driving with you, except there was no screaming."
I laughed for five minutes.
Last night I got an email from a young woman who works on adaptive climbing clinics for limb difference folks. She had made up a poster with Michael on it, taken last spring when he did the Catalyst Sports adaptive climbing clinic.She sent me a PDF of the upcoming climbing clinic at Duke in North Carolina but I couldn't reproduce it here. This is the shot they used, though.
I know it was a nice little boost to Mike's self-confidence to be the "poster boy." He asked me why I thought they chose him. I said because he is so cute.
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My poem about my daughter, "My Daughter Sings," is scheduled to appear in a new anthology called Monday Coffee & Other Stories. There is a new blog out that supports the book and you can see it here.
So, I took a moment to thank God this afternoon for helping us to hang on, hang in here, and not give up or give in. I am feeling pretty happy right now.
Life is not perfect, but so be it. We are being blessed right and left, in large and small ways.
