Summer's beginning was marked by the Memorial Day milestone. Swimming pools opened, peonies were placed on graves, the Indy 500 was piped over the radio, and a family picnic marked this high point memory of past glory.
Life was so much simpler when the grand questions of life went into remission, on hold, or unquestioned. Work, make money, and hang out. Then Junior Summer! Foreboding. Time for choices. Time to commit. Time to grow up.
My mentors and friends saved me from myself. I am indebted to those who cared enough to guide me. They are legion and they remain in my thoughts today. Every day.
An idiot, I was late to recognize and realize who really provided the foundations of life; who pushed me out of the nest with the skill to fly; who provided the consistent love and advice? The answer was so in my face that I consistently under appreciated the many sacrifices and gifts of those who counted most. Thought I did it myself.
Didn't ever, never did. Thanks Mom and Dad. Thanks for not booting me out when I was self-absorbed, naive and self-focused.
We take your wisdom and try to pass on your generous lessons.
Today we have no expectation of outcomes, only our hope for the health and safety of our family and friends. We would trade lots for that. Achieving that sense of security seems harder today than it was on Memorial Days of years gone by. It only seems that way.
It's not harder, I am convinced our parents were just better at it. And so it goes as Sarah flirts with recovery once more.
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2 comments:
Amen.
Don't diminish the job you have done in being a parent. There is no standardized ruleset to follow with kids, its one of those adapt or die situations. You are doing all that you can, and given your track record of 4 kids who are all pretty stable and have a good direction in our lives, I'd say that odds are with you and Susan behind her, Sarah stands a much better chance at staying clean than if you had done things any other way. Ultimately yes, it is up to her, and to realize that is to know that you can only do so much.
Love you Pop!
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