A Series of (Not-So) Unfortunate Events

Wow! Is November over? Whew! I was beginning to feel a little like my life was written by Lemony Snicket.I have not been around the blogosphere at all as of late. I have not visited but I haven't even been at my own "home". I have felt overwhelmed by life in the real world. In fact, I was nearing feeling depressed.To begin with, my children were ill. My daughter had such a bad cough that I was afraid that she had contracted the Whooping Cough that was going around her preschool. Fortunately, it was not Whooping Cough.I hurt my wrist. Badly. I thought that I had broken it. It hurt so bad that I nearly fainted if it was touched. Fortunately, it was not broken.My husband was in an accident on his Motor Scooter. He broke his leg requiring surgery. He could have been killed. I saw him in the ambulance on the back board with tubes coming out of everywhere. It scared me beyond words. Fortunately, he was home from the hospital in two days and recovering at home.All the above had me in a tail-spin of huge proportions. I am usually a positive, up-beat person but I was walking around like a zombie dissolving into tears several times a day. I found myself saying how tired I was to anyone who would listen and to myself multiple times. I was edgy, irritable, and not "my best self".Then something happened. I had something of a belated Thanksgiving miracle. I chose to look at everything that November was and find something to say thank you. So I started to focus on the last sentences of each paragraph. My daughter didn't have Whooping Cough. She just had a sinus infection. I didn't break my wrist. My husband had a successful surgery that has brought him home and a future of a full recovery.How did this Oprah style lightbulb go off in my head? I wish I could say that it came from inside my heart. That I am perpetually in a state of gratefulness and grace. If I were to imply that, you would never read this post because the lightning strike would short out my computer before I hit send.No. As per usual, my children are my best teachers. Both my son and daughter have started using this odd little phrase. It starts with "Lucky..." and then they insert whatever would've worsened the said situation. For example, if they were to drop a plate, they might say, "Lucky, it didn't break" or "Lucky, the spaghetti didn't fall on the carpet", etc.In other words, they have become the prince and princess of the Silver Lining. And in one of their "Lucky" moments, they started talking about their Daddy. "Lucky Daddy didn't break his arm, too." "Lucky Daddy's moped didn't get broken." "Lucky they could fix Daddy's leg". And in that moment, I thought, "Lucky I have these kids!"Don't get me wrong. Life did not get miraculously easier. I am still healing. I am now taking care of a third human (one who can be less patient and more grumpy at times than the two children in my life!) But I have a lot of "Lucky"s."Lucky, my daughter didn't have a horrible contagious disease requiring quarantine and potential hospitalization". "Lucky my wrist wasn't broken requiring two months of wearing a cast". "Lucky, my husband will heal and be here to spend many more holidays with us". Lucky, indeed.Here's wishing you a holiday of "Luckys" in your home, as well. In this spirit, I have an invitation to you. I would love to send out old fashioned in the post Christmas cards. And I would love to send my friends from the world of email and blogs something that requires a stamp (or two). If you would like a card, please email me your "real" address. And this is open to my global friends, as well. If you have a mailbox, I would love to fill it.Either way, I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season, whether you celebrate a Nativity, oil in a temple, or just the beauty of the people in your life, Happy Holidays!