The Luckiest Man Alive...

I made an executive decision last night. I’m going to attempt to grow a beard. That’s right. You heard me, a beard.
No shaving.
This isn’t some rabbinical tangent here. We are talking going all Grizzle Adams. Why not? It’s not like I have to impress a boss or anything, know what I mean? Why not just relax for a week and see what sort of vegetation grows in.
That I am not willing to spring ten bucks for replacement razors is beside the point.
I spent my first day at home yesterday. The work slate with the Confesor was light so I decided to work on my Mom’s website. She sews, knits, you know, all those lovely grandmaesque things. She’s good at it too. Make my little girl’s dresses each Christmas.
Oy, such workmanship! You know, it gets me right in the kishkes when I think about it.
And yes, I had to add oy and kishkes to my dictionary.
I also sat down and watched television for the first time in a week. It felt good to catch my breath for a bit.
I finally got to see The Man from Snowy River.
Great movie.
I loved the whole charging down the mountainside with the cracking of the whip and the beating of the horse hooves in the dirt. It was, to say the least, impressive, most impressive.
I was back at the gym this morning, trying to get some sort of routine re-established. The normal 5 am crowd were all “Where have you been all week?”
I laughed. It’s nice when people notice when you aren’t there, even if you don’t say more than hello in the morning. Makes you feel like part of the world in a weird don’t look at me while I am sweating on the treadmill kind of way.
I can’t help but feel blessed this morning.
I know that sounds crazy but let me explain. I saw their story on the news last weekend. A family of five was out boating when the boat sank. Tossed in the water, the father grabbed his youngest child, a three month old baby, and swam to shore. His wife survived but he lost a son and a daughter.
Last night, my kids where laughing and running all over the house. At one point they all jumped on me, giggling and laughing. They hugged me and kissed me and laughed some more.
I am the luckiest man alive.
I prayed for that family this morning. I prayed that God would somehow get them through this.
I know there are those of you out there that have lost children; my prayer was for you too. A pain like that doesn’t ever really heal. I don’t really know what else to say really. I was nearly in tears this morning at the gym listening to this man heart broken voice as he was interviewed. He spoke about how it wasn’t something that you survive day by day but rather minute by minute.
He is going to be on my heart all day today. And so will all of you that read this. (Yes, all ten of you…)
I will pray for you too just because.