Friday, June 21, 2013

Some People Are So Poor... All They Have is Money

Did you watch The Voice? We absolutely lived to watch that show weekly. There is a lot to be said about me watching any sort of television show. I don't watch TV often. In fact, I most days, the television never even gets turned on at our house. I don't have the ability to sit and watch television or movies... without being bored out of my mind. I know- its a bit crazy. Anyhow, a few weeks ago the Swon Brothers sang a rendition of Danny's Song. The version that I am most familiar is the Anne Murray version (it's the country version). In fact, it was a song that was played at mine and Daniel's wedding. Ashlynn asked me what the meaning of the song was that night and I explained to her the meaning behind the following part of the lyrics:


"And even though we ain't got money, I'm so in love with ya honey,
And everything will bring a chain of love.

And in the morning when I rise, you bring a tear of joy to my eyes,
And tell me everything is gonna be alright."

And, while in discussion with her about this, it brought me back to my childhood. I grew up in a middle-class neighborhood called Meadow Bend in League City Texas for most of my childhood. However, across the street were the big houses, the mansions- their neighborhood was South Shore Harbor. They had gates with a call station you had to go to before you could enter. And, on Halloween... those were the best houses to trick-or-treat at. Famous folks lived there. Astronauts lived there. When I was little, I can remember casually asking my dad if we were "rich". I guess it was just me trying to figure out how I stacked up against my friends. I can remember him getting so mad at me for asking that question. In fact, I will never forget that look in his eyes that vary day when I asked him that. Both of my parents were very hard working folks. He stopped in his tracks and said to me "We are rich in family, and in love, and that is all that you should worry about." Today, looking back, I find it kind of ironic that he of all people would say that.

But the other night, that thought came back to haunt me. It's strange. Maybe, it was that I finally understood what was being said that day. It was just 20 years or so later....

But, that dad disappeared shortly after because of the addiction problems that he continuously had that ultimately led to a divorce that left my family is shambles for quite some time. Maybe, his lesson didn't mean that much to me until I had my own family. That night, I thought about him. How he came back into my life in 2008 and passed away in 2010- actually on mine and Daniel's wedding anniversary. Poof... gone just like that. 

I think about what he meant by the term "rich in family", and I get it now. Because, I am very rich in family and I feel that "richness" each and every time that I witness my children doing something amazing (Ash mastering her gymnastics routines, Avery gleaming because she wrote her name, and Mia learning from her sisters), or Daniel cuddling with his girls in bed, reading to them. That richness doesn't stop there. I feel it when I talk to my mom on the phone, when I look at the amazing friendships that have cultivated into a sister-hood... and even more richness is felt when you have that sense of feeling important by those that you love. We are "rich", very "rich".

So tonight,  I think about a man, who isn't here today, and ultimately never got to see the value in the lessons that he taught me so early in my life. Those lessons, continue to bare their fruit as I share them with my children. Its funny how our thought patterns work.

In other news... Here are some dates to keep in mind. Prayers appreciated greatly:
July 10th- Daniel has a surgery scheduled to repair a abscess that created a fistula. If you remember, he had a surgical procedure a few months ago and it was far too complicated to repair at that time. Surgery is not the best option for Daniel because he is at such a huge risk for infection. However, it has to be done. 

July 22nd- 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP with Dr. DiPersio. This is our BMT follow-up. This will be a big day with a whole gamut of tests to be completed.

Finally... sometime in July (I am not giving the specific date), I am taking my state boards. Wish me luck! 

XOXO Kristin