Cool to the End - 83 Hours

Celebrating Sarah's 83-hour visit is better than mourning its passage.

When Susan dropped Sarah in Ann Arbor today, they both cried. We're not sure about Sarah's sadness but we know our desire is for her safety and security....... QED. In a word, Sarah's presence was a gift, a present in the present, a good "83 hours"!

Brooke, Sarah's friend, fit our family like a glove, not revealing too much yet establishing herself like one of the framed Motawi tiles in the "sun room". Were we flirting with her so that she would be our surrogate voice of reason, a second voice supporting Sarah? Maybe we were trying to show Brooke that we aren't total failures as parents. ("Gee Sarah, they're not as bad as you say!")

We had a hundred unasked questions of Sarah! We wanted to stare into the crystal ball, to find security in hopeful signs and answers, and to relieve our anxiety about whether the sun shines just around the bend in the road. We dared not ask! Sarah floated just beyond our reality. She was here in body, the shield us up, ergo no "open book". I suspect nineteen year olds typically avoid "the talk", "the plan", and the oral exam. She was here to rest. Her mind reached out for a compass; her spirit was refueling for her quest of the unknown. A little spiritual boost!

Worth it? Yes. Why? A hug communicates more than a picture and certainly more than those elusive thousand words.

We know little more than yesterday. We have little to sustain our prayers for tomorrow's security.

It sure was nice to hug her!