Much of life is spent waiting (9/26/05)

This time last year we were awaiting news about my nephew who just had surgery on his ear. He has been back for more ear operations since then (same ear) and appears to be just fine although there are traces of a very minor hearing loss.

We were also waiting for my daughter’s nephew to be released from the hospital. He had been born prematurely and with part of his intestines on the outside of his body. Just a few days ago I received a picture of this child covered in chocolate birthday cake and showing off a few shiny white teeth. He appears to be a normal toddler in every way with all his body parts in the right places. His favorite birthday present makes lots of noise and is guaranteed to drive his parents crazy.

As I write this we are waiting to see if Hurricane Rita will hit or miss the Houston suburb where my daughter lives. They have done all they can do to get ready for it and have been told that at this time it is pointless to try to evacuate.

Sometimes it seems as if a good part of life is spent waiting to find out what will happen. There is only so much one can do to prepare for disaster and as many have found out recently even if we think we are prepared — we’re wrong. There is always something unforeseen that hampers our plans.

I’m currently waiting for several things. I’m waiting for the last traces of poison ivy on my arm to disappear. The older I get the longer it takes for evidence of my stupidity to fade into oblivion.

I’m waiting for an unknown cousin to get back from vacation so I can add another chapter or two to the family history I have been preparing. He and I disagree on some key points and I am hoping to find out once and for all which of us is mistaken. I have never met this man and am looking forward to finding out what he has to say. I just hope his vacation wasn’t in New Orleans.

I have also been bringing the houseplants back into the house in preparation for the upcoming winter. I thought I was ahead of schedule until I made the mistake of counting how many of them were still outside. Where in the world am I going to put another 50 or 60 pots? More importantly where did they all come from? I think they multiply over the summer. All that fresh air and rain must make them believe they are bunnies and should reproduce at every given opportunity. So they do.

We wait for this and for that and as we wait we try to prepare for what we think is ahead. We consult seers known as weather forecasters to tell us if our houses will float away in the near future. We expect them to be able to tell us if our lawn chairs will suddenly take flight or if frost will blacken the leaves of our favorite plants.

Those of us with family in the projected path of disaster worry and pace. We pray and consult the weather channel every few minutes for any shred of hope that the latest storm will bypass those we cherish. We realize that no matter where disaster strikes it will strike somebody’s family. Everybody is somebody’s son or daughter. Almost everyone has someone who loves them and wants to keep them safe.

I hate waiting. I want to take my daughter in my arms and protect her from any harm that may befall her. It doesn’t matter that she is taller and more competent than I will ever be. It is my responsibility as a mother to keep her safe from harm.

Unfortunately that is not one of my options. It is impossible to hug someone who is half a continent away. So I wait. I worry and wait. And next year we will have a new baby to worry about. Until then we wait.

Additional note: As you now know the hurricane missed Houston. My daughter and her family are fine and I am much relieved.[[In-content Ad]]