Life Interrupted…

I just returned home after traveling for three months. Interestingly, I don’t work outside the home anymore. So what the heck have I been doing? Well, I’ve been taking care of ailing parents, visiting my daughter at college, my son who lives out of town, and trying hard to get some rest at a resort in Florida. But to be honest, the only thing I really did was survive three months of constant change. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I had a boring life four months ago, because to be quite frank, I was just getting used to being in a routine after retiring from teaching. I liked my new routine…it was simple and stress free. But when the first call about a sick parent came in, suddenly I was catapulted into a world-wind of events that interrupted my life.

This isn’t the first time my life has been interrupted of course. My life has had all the normal interruptions such as going to school, graduating, getting my first job, marrying, giving birth…you get the idea. But this time my life really WAS interrupted. I was home nine days out of three months. I slept on floors, in hotels, and guest rooms. I crossed the United States ten times either by air or by automobile. I held sick hands and murmured reassuring words to those in need. I dished out tough love when needed and tried hard to be supportive at the same time. I gave love to those around me, and when I was at my most vulnerable state, I found the strength to find the good in all of it.

Sometimes it is good to have your life interrupted, it makes you appreciate your life. It made me remember how quickly things can happen from one day to the next. Today as I sit here writing, I realize that I am blessed to have such wonderful people in my life, to be a part of a world where every day is a new day of hope, and that with every interruption comes the validation that I am truly living.