Another First

I chatted with a retired ER nurse and retired fire chief this evening. I’m amazed by people who can deliberately pit themselves against tragedy and catastrophe, willingly walking into the maw. What kind of mettle is that? But I step back and reflect on a recent conversation with Mary. Everybody gets dealt their “hard” cards. All of us. The price of admission to this show is heartache and pain. And every single person has, is, or will suffer. Wow, what a cheerful Merry Christmas pep talk, Becci. Way to make spirits bright.

But this pain, this suffering, it’s only one part of the story. There is still joy. Delight. Wonder. Play. Laughter. Connection. Hope. Love. There are opportunities every day to make new memories, good memories.

I had every intention of hiding under a blanket after Christmas breakfast and present-opening with Mary this morning. And I may do that tomorrow; the jury is out. But today, instead, I went for yet another glorious walk at Mill Creek. I had dinner with Mary, her mom, and her step-dad. (Sara makes a very fine prime rib!) I went to Walter and Danielle’s for a visit this evening. Interspersed through it all were gifts and messages from loved ones and kitty cuddles thrown in for good measure.

And if you did hide under a blanket today, there’s no shame in that. It’s a tough day. If you forged ahead in stressful circumstances, congratulations, you made it through. If you had the very best day full of every good thing, I am so glad, I wish that for everyone. Most of us probably had some mixture of all of the above, and that’s okay too. Good enough is the enemy of perfect.