Written December 2019 – posted October 2020
Hello Sno Flakes! Have you ever been in a place in life where everything fits? It seems you are on the right road, life seems perfect. But then out of nowhere, something comes along that throws a rock in your path. A quick detour wouldn’t hurt, right? You look up and your off track. You ask yourself, “how did I get here?”. That is my life right now.
I was on track, my life planned out, going along great. A great husband, a huge family, great career. Since we talked last, I have passed the Real Estate Board in Alabama! You are looking at a Real Estate Agent of Keller Williams Realty Metro South, Alabaster Alabama. With hard work and long hours, I finally got my Business up and going strong. Not fantastic, but promising. I also am still pursuing my career in the Film Industry. It has really picked up. There is a steady flow of work happening in Alabama, that keeps me busy in between Real Estate clients. After hard work,I have made a name for myself, to climb the ladder, and be trusted with important decisions on set. Life, as it may, was perfect!
Then, one day out of nowhere, like a mac truck hitting a bump in the road, I get a phone call. November 14, 2019. My mother, of 71 years old, has taken ill. Not only is she in the hospital, but she is being flown to a better hospital two hours away from her home, for emergency surgery. My mother lives six hours north of me, in a little country town in Southern Illinois. A town of 14,000 people, one grocery store, literally two police officers, and everyone know each other.
So, now after speaking with the doctors, I have packed a few bags, and am on the road, leaving my family behind, two weeks before Thanksgiving. Long story short, mother stayed in the hospital two weeks, and then was released to rehab. Where, she refused to stay, and after only five days, checked herself out. Now, if anyone knows my mother, you know she is hard-headed. Once her mind is made up, that’s it! There is no changing it. So I stay with her at her home for three weeks, and once she is stable, I head back home to Alabama. Great! Mom is good, now I can get back to my life, and get back to work. Nope. Too good to be true. Four days later, Mom was found in bed unresponsive. The ambulance came, they flew her back to the big hospital, and I hit the highway.
So, here I sit, two days before Christmas, in the dark, writing to you. Oh, mom will be fine. After a whole lot of convincing and a little bit of fear of being alone, she is coming to Alabama to live with me. I sit here and think how I miss my family, my husband, my fur babies. How I long to sleep in a bed, and not on this rubber couch. As I listen to the lull of the IV machine, and the sound of her breathing, I realize how tired I am. For almost two months, we have been in and out of hospitals, with doctors and nurses coming in and out of the room every hour it seems. Oh, how I long for a full night’s sleep. But with all that, I wouldn’t be anywhere else. I am where I need to be at this moment.
As I sit here, I think of Christmas carols, and baking cookies, and tree hunting. I think of my husband on the roof of the house trying to hang Christmas lights. And ask if, of a sudden, none of that seems important. I realize at this moment, the only thing important is family and those we love. Saying, “I love you”. Make sure every moment counts. That is what is important. Not things.
Yes, I miss my family. Yes, I have cried to God many a night. I am not ready for her to go yet. But I also know that each new day is a blessing to be shared with those we love. So the next time you feel the urge to fuss, or complain about something, stop and think first. Is this really a deal-breaker? Is this that important that I need to waste words or time to give it any energy? I think not. Tomorrow is not a promise.
Until the next pitcher of tea, stay blessed, stay southern sweet.
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Sno's Southern Life 