I didn't think I'd write a post today. It was kind of a "free day" for me. My sister Paula took the day off and planned a trip to Peggy's Cove. Dad would stay with my brother-in-law Larry and nephew Colin.
I wasn't expecting any life-altering or deep thoughts in my tourist--sightseeing day. I was expecting a great, fun day with my sister. I got that.
I wasn't expecting any life-altering or deep thoughts in my tourist--sightseeing day. I was expecting a great, fun day with my sister. I got that.
Before we hit Peggy's Cove, we stopped at the memorial for Swissair 111. I was impressed with the simple shell-shaped granite slabs that marked the lives lost. Beautiful, fitting.
And then the Cove.
Aside from the picture-perfect village and slightly picture-weary lighthouse, there was granite. Astounding waves of granite. Granite that has withstood the ravages of time, glaciers, millions of tourists and the continuous pounding of the Atlantic.
And while at first glance the granite looks solid, on closer inspection, scratches and fissures - faults - can be seen.
I started thinking that all of those fissures started out as small nicks left behind by massive glaciers. Time and other natural stresses made them bigger and bigger to the point where some threaten to break the unbreakable rock in two.
And then, in the midst of the expanse of grey, I caught sight of a small wisp of green. Walked closer and sure enough, three blades of grass were blowing in the wind. There was grass growing on solid rock.
No, there was grass growing in the crack in solid rock.
Pretty much the premise of my little blog. So many things can be seen as cracks, fissures, faults in our lives. The A, B, C, Ds (Alzheimer's, Breast Cancer, Down syndrome) in the title can be seen as threats to the constancy and solidity of my life. But they are also opportunities for growth.
I'm rooting (pun intended) for those three blades of grass.
Love this post Auntie. I like your outlook on life when it's difficult. Especially when it comes to the people you love most. Don't get me wrong, I've bawled my eyes out over Ian's Asperger's, and all of the mess going on with Daddy (I'm sure everyone with a child with special needs has at least a few times!)but I try to see the silver lining in everything. If Ian didn't have Asperger's he wouldn't be the quirky, kooky, kid he is. I wouldn't have the same appreciation for the seemingly simple stuff that he struggles with that most of us take for granted. If Dad hadn't gotten sick he would have never slowed down to enjoy his life and his grandkids. The kids wouldn't have all of this special time with their Pop pop. Our family was sort of in crisis when he got diagnosed, and it brought the famly back together and reminded us how precious and how fragile life really is. I'm rooting for that grass too! Grow grass grow!