My lovely plans for last week began to fall apart three days before the week started when I backed into a car in a parking lot. The good news is that no-one was hurt - - but my car was damaged and went into the shop for 10 days.
My sister arrived three days later on the same day Pope Francis was landing at Andrews Joint Base to begin his historic trip to the United States. We expected the city to be flooded with pilgrims and traffic blocked. As it turned out it did not effect us at all. On Tuesday morning daughter Karen and I drove over to pick Kathy up at Reagan Airport in DC. Karen, like most people who worked in offices downtown, had been asked to work at home during the Pope's visit. Now - that turned out to be a marvelous blessing for us.
Two days after my fender-bender with the car my back became quite a problem. I could not walk without severe pain. You see how this is working out. The connectedness of events in our lives pops out when you begin to really look at it.
That afternoon Kathy and I went to check on the status of my car while Karen took Leia, our little Shih Tzu, to the Vet. There is a back story.
Several Vets had been working on an infection in her right eye. It was not healing, in fact it was worse. She was scheduled to see an eye specialist. Later that afternoon, as I drove home, Karen called. "You have to make a decision, Mom." We raced to join her and meet with the eye doctor. Damage from the infection out-of-hand. They removed Leia's eye next day.
Kathy and I had planned a sweet week of talk, fun and several short road trips. Not happening.
My back was no better - walking painful and difficult. Now Leia in for surgery and care for recovery. Yikes.
But - perhaps because our plans changed - was a blessing.
We were not racing from pillar to post so we had time to journey along with Pope Francis thanks to CNN. We saw it all.
Along with following the commentators along the way.
It was good.
Pope Francis has arrived home to Rome safely leaving much for millions to remember and think about.
Now we start a new calendar page -
My back is improved and continuing to improve. Leia is healing.
Kathy and I have had lots of wonderful sister time together that also included Karen. Kathy goes home tomorrow and I will miss her - lots.
Lists, lists, lists -to prepare for the storytelling schedule ahead in October.
But I know there are changes in me - - - something has touched and warmed my heart and opened my soul to heal.
There is room for JOY.
