Don’t Worry, It’s Completely Normal…

Well fan-freakin-tastic. I’m completely normal. Who knew?

Wait! I’m getting ahead of myself here. OK, rewind the day a bit. No, better go back a bit farther than that. Hmmmm…

A few months ago, I realized that my world was out of focus. Nope, that’s not metaphorical [although you could make a case or two on that one]. I literally have not been seeing clearly for quite some time. 

For much of the time, I’ve been blaming my computer screen. It was, in fact, completely out of whack due to a funky driver issue – everyone said so. [I have witnesses. I like to have evidence that I'm not just making stuff up!] So, it was completely normal that I couldn’t see and had nothing to do with me. Our IT department would come in and correct my vision, er, my computer monitor and all would be well.

Humph. Not what happened at all.

I actually fixed the driver issue myself when I was troubleshooting something else. And voila .. yeh, still wasn’t clear. Turns out IT can’t fix vision problems. Again, I ask, who knew?

So, I come to grips with the fact that my eyes have finally just given up the fight and are begging for assistance. I make an appointment – humph, insurance problem. I’m now plaing the when-the-heck-is-the-new-year-getting-here-so-I-can-schedule-a-dang-appointment-and-get-some-glasses game. I’ve done it before. Like Gloria Gaynor, I will survive. [I may even break into song.]

Fast forward a few blurry months to today. It’s the new year and all of my insurance issues are cleared up. [As far as I know.] Whoo-hoo! I’m off to the eye appointment and a clearer, more focused existence! [Still not metaphorical in the slightest.]

After a harrowing trip [um, I forgot my keys first.  Then, my phone and credit cards. I had to call the office - to which I didn't know the number becuase it was in my phone - and have my wonderful admin bring them to me. I will not tell you what she said to me, unless you ask nicely and/or figure out a way to make chocolate a healthy food group.], I met my nice new doctor. We chat. He’s young, married with two kids, new to the practice, and … well, let’s just say that the “looks decent wagon didn’t pass him by.”  But, I digress.

He is a very good (looking) doctor and, during my vision exam, he patiently explained quite a bit about vision. [I would have found it interesting even if he wasn't cute - it was all very Discovery Channel.] We were having a very nice vision screening and then he went a ruined the whole thing.

“How,” you ask?

I’m so glad you want to know.

It seems that my deteriorating vision is – wait for it – completely normal for my age.

I didn’t kick him. I thought about it … still am, actually. I smiled and thanked him for the explanation and for the prescription that was going to make me see clearly [... once the rain has gone. Yeh, couldn't resist that one.]

Now, I’m not a spring chicken. [Really? Did I just write that? Yes, and I'm not going to delete it.] I’m aware that I’ve reached a certain stature point on the experience scale. But, really, I had a baby last year and even my OB didn’t tell me that things were normal (or good or typical) “for my age”.

This is the first time in my life that anyone has said that to me. I can’t say I liked it. [As indicated by the fact that I'm still considering kicking the very nice doctor.]

On the other hand, he was cute and nice. He is going to make it so I can see clearly again. And, it’s so rare that someone tells me that I’m normal – for my age or for any other.

Hmmm … thinking about embracing normal for my age.

I’ll get back to you to let you know how that’s workin’ for me!

Feeding Frenzy

This was a crazy Sunday … good and exhausting! While there are quite a few stories I could tell – most of them about the antics of the kids – there was an overarching theme to the day that struck a chord with me. I’ll try to share it well. I may fail.

There is a video clip that’s been floating around since well before YouTube. It’s a fascinating look at how piranha work over their prey. Think back, you know the one. It shows a scene where all of the fish are focused on one and only one objective – get the food now.

I took BK to her Gram’s church today. (Now, let me connect the dots here or our stories may not take the same path and that would be too bad! … and while I’m at it, let me say that no children were harmed in the experience of this story. Quite the contrary, I think everyone had a very fine day!)

Our Sunday visit to church today was different. You see, the church we attended is smack dab in the middle of a community of mostly retired people. Many of them are very active, but this group of folks has quite a bit of life under its belt.

When you bring a baby into that environment, the grandma and grandpa instincts shift into high gear immediately. I’m not kidding you. I think they caught a whiff of her cute BK scent when her Gram brought her in because during and after the service, they gravitated her way. Like moths to flame … uh, ummm … like pirhanna to prey. It was amazing and I was not going to be the one to stand in the way of their baby fix. Not a chance in … wait, church story.

There was one moment that will explain this better than anything (you really needed to be there to experience it). About 5 minutes into fellowship hour, a lady I’d never seen before walked up to me…

Very Nice Lady (VNL): Ms. _____ saw the baby across the sanctuary and wants to see her.

Me: (tentatively) OK.

VNL: She has Parkinson’s and she can’t come to you.

Me: (confident now) Oh, so we need to go for a visit?  Sure!

VNL: (very happy) Thank you!

It took us 5 minutes to cross a space of about 100 feet. Every time I took a step forward, someone would step in my path to see BK. Thankfully, BK is a very happy baby and likes attention – a lot.

We spent about 10 minutes with Ms. _____ before she and her family headed to lunch. Then, we made our way back to Fellowship Hall and a host of folks who “just had” to see the baby. It’s quite possible that BK was held, kissed, hugged, touched, or complimented by about 80% of the folks there. Everyone who met us seemed lighter for their interaction with BK. They went away with a smile (and so did BK).

After church, Gram decided we needed to go for brunch. We did and you know what? The exact same thing happened again. All eyes in the room were on BK. Folks around us spent a lot of their meal just watching her eat and she put on a great show – and made a royal mess! I’m not kidding … about either of those things!

The Pastor was at brunch as well … which is acutally a very nice and unplanned segue back to the service. The sermon today was part of a tithing and commitment series. During it, the Pastor spoke about giving what was in your hands to give. He spoke about giving of time and energy and in several places he asked, “What are you holding in your hands?”

When he asked that, I was literally holding BK (who thankfully decided to sleep rather than sing with the choir). Each time he asked, I’d smile and tell myself, “Yeh, bet that’s not what me means.”

Now, many hours later, I’ve got to tell you that I still don’t think he was advocating that I tithe BK. He was, after all, speaking about the need to support the church – financially and otherwise. But I also have to tell you that there is something to sharing what I was literally holding during that sermon.

When I brought BK to church today, it was so that we could worship with her Gram. I was there for us. Turns out that we may have also been there for them. It may be that our gift to this church on this day was a willingness to freely share a bit of youth with folks who don’t see it enough … an ornery smile, a flirt, a giggle, and a blown kiss to remind everyone that life is about more than their present worries.

I think there’s a lesson here beyond this congregation and beyond this community. Youth brings vitality and energy. Age brings experience and wisdom. We need each other. There’s a lot at the table that can be shared and the benefits can be great, but it can only happen if we are willing to join in the feeding frenzy.