We're Off to See the Wizard

Friday we mount up and head to the Ranch to be with Sarah after her initial three weeks in recovery. Maggi will ride shotgun carrying undying, non-judgmental love. Courtney will stay home to protect the homestead but she'll send her best hairball as a reminder of her pretended indifference.

We could blog about how Sarah is doing but giving an "update" now is a bit like giving a weather forecast. Looked out the window, listened, felt a little moisture, heard some rumblings, had skin prickle, checked the weathervane, and scratched the thinning hair. Took a guess!

She's doing great! Some hours are good, others are bad. She likes it a little and dislikes it so much she's not staying. Loves-hates all those old women. Bonded with the animals but got stung, and had a few ticks. Got ticked and has been tickled. The 5-day forecast says she doesn't like it so much it must be doing her good.

But let's withhold our assessment until Sunday night. Or Monday when we've digested the events of the weekend. Frankly we are looking forward to 10 hours in the car and then sitting in a "Family of Origin" workshop. If we're good the Ranch may let us take Sarah overnight Saturday.

Over the last few weeks we have talked to Sarah, written, read between the lines, projected thoughts, taken stands, negotiated, and loved. We've even adjusted to lower levels of stress. So has she. I believe she's had time to begin to think about herself with a clear enough head that she has reached out via mail or phone to siblings, aunts, and GMa. Probably to a few others, too. We're looking for signs that the real Sarah, the new Sarah, the oldie-but-goodie Sarah will emerge as if touched by a wizardess.

In truth, we're so happy she's alive we'll take it one minute, one hour, one day, one weekend at a time. Just like we tried to do with our other children. They're all alive. They're wonderful people. They are living their lives. We are grateful for each moment.

Pardon the overused quote that follows about yesterday, today, tomorrow, and today. It has been attributed to Indra, Master Oogway, Kung-Fun Panda, Anonymous, Joan Rivers, and who knows who else. Perhaps it is a rip-off of the Psalm "This is the day the Lord has made..."

Frederick Schroeder compiled a book "Every Day Is a Gift" 24 years ago. That kindly priest put together a daily meditation for each day of the year and it rivals many of the pop culture, as well as the recovery, and "feel good" books of today. Today's wisdom begins "Thoroughly wash me of my guilt ... for I acknowledge my offense." Sounds like steps to recovery. Would that we all could be so loved as to be forgiven be those we have offended! We can!

So back to the "yesterday, tomorrow, today thing".... here's a little thought provoker, one that I don't know who to credit, so let's just say the wizard sent it!

Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day.Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.

What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course?

Each of us has such a bank. It's name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to a good purpose.It carries over no balance. It allows no over draft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day.If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.

There is no drawing against "tomorrow." You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running!!

Make the most of today.To realise the value of one year, ask a student who failed a grade.To realise the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.To realise the value of one week, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.To realise the value of one hour, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.To realise the value of one minute, ask a person who just missed a train.To realise the value of one second, ask someone who just avoided an accident.To realise the value of one millisecond, ask the person who won a silver medal at the olympics.Treasure every moment that you have!

And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with. And remember time waits for no one.


Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is God's gift. That's why its called the present. And we'll have our gift seeing Sarah by the time you read this.



Love. It's out there!