Apparently this period is the busiest time for birthdays and as a matter of fact Oct 5th claims to have the most people born on that date – simply because nine months prior was New Year’s Eve. And so it seems that we have been on a birthday roll, kiddies, adults, or one of our own – it is like a Libra explosion around here.
And while everyone is busy celebrating their birth, I am still in my contemplative mode. Yesterday, as we set out for a bike ride to celebrate Tatjana’s new bike and birthday, the neighborhood lawn guy – a big, burly hunk of a man – came over and asked me if I was alright. I was sitting on the front stairs putting on my shoes before going to pump air in the tires. I said, yeah, thanks.
He said, “I don’t really know what’s wrong with you, but I’ve been thinking about you.” And I explained Hashimoto’s and Alopecia and auto immune deficiencies in my basic elevator pitch. He said, “Look, you don’t know me, but I’ve been through hell, which is the best way I can describe it: my wife and I separated and nine months later I started seeing our neighbor and then we now have a one year old and she turned out to be a pathological liar and I have a six year old from my marriage and my wife is full of hatred and … .”
I think he wanted a hug but both of us were sweaty as I’d just come from Zumba and he was on his third yard.
I thought about him as we rode out to the lakefront and about many who have come to me almost in empathy for the way I look because it touches something about the way they feel. If only I could harness my auto immune to help others with their rough patches and setbacks. I’m still thinking about it, but I don’t know if I have a clear answer.
We’re headed out today to celebrate yet one more person’s birthday, and I know this for sure, life is like this: we’re born, we grow up, we fall in love, we make a mess out of our lives, and then we die. And sometimes you are the person who reaches out to help someone back up, and sometimes it’s you on the ground with your hand stretched upwards.
But the cycle is endless, till it’s not.
Ever since I’ve known you, Rachel, you have been someone who reaches out to help people back up. That’s your gift–maybe it’s your calling…
Thanks Graham – you’ve been on my mind a lot lately and the fact that I haven’t called every time I’ve thought of you is just indicative of how busy I have been not how little you pop up.