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Monday, March 13, 2017

When the Roof Caves In



Oh… dear, sweet friends… how I wish this was a metaphor…

I have many stories that I could share from the past week (and I probably will, over time), but I’m not sure any is as aptly profound as the one when the ceiling of the downtown apartment, in which we are living part-time, fell down.

Not too long ago, as I was laughing about our current housing situation, an acquaintance described me as, “from another planet.”  I took it as a compliment… strangers and aliens and all that.  As a planner, I’m not always great at adjusting and adapting on the fly, but I’m getting better at it all the time.  I’m learning to let go of so many expectations and to live in the given moment, whatever it may hold. 

So, even when the roof caved in, I took a deep breath and went on with the next couple of days.  I am a firm believer in the concept of doing what I need to do.  I had things I needed to do, so I did them… Welcome to the department of redundancy department…

However… 

When I went to pick up some things I needed for work and realized they were covered in dust; I also realized something else.  I had reached my breaking point.  I took about ten minutes to consider this, while my husband took several loads of the kids’ clothes and toiletries down the stairs to our waiting vehicle.  Then I joined him so we could drive to a friend’s home (where we had already left the children) to spend the night.

Except…   The van wouldn’t start.  

So, I laughed again, because—seriously—only one breakdown per day…

At this point, we proceeded to walk the half mile to the place where we are staying.  We were carrying and rolling bags… and sleeping bags…  down the street…  in sweats…

Shaking my head, I stopped to consider whether this is the kind of solidarity I really want to display in my life.  I mean…  OK…  I guess…  But I couldn’t even post this, last night, because I was so overwhelmed.

This morning I recognize that my short journey in the dark and cold, carrying as many essentials as I could (and… apparently Phil’s Mountain Dew…  see selfie…  no, wait…  I’m not posting it…), ended at a warm house with a comfortable bed.  So, even when things are as frustrating as they possibly can be, the irritations in my life aren’t anywhere close to the suffering of many others around me.

I don’t want to be cliché or attempt to provide easy answers for impossible questions, but I think the best I can do, right now… as I prepare to walk to work in the falling snow (in my flip flops)…  is to give thanks.  We’re here.  That counts for something, right?  Honestly…  somebody please say, “right!”
 
L.

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