A DAY OF BLESSINGS

I had some errands to run today. I needed to take my comforter to a Laundromat. I needed to get a haircut. I needed to try to find a pair of jeans that fit my ever enlarging belly.


But first, I had to go to the memorial outside Gabrielle Giffords’ office again.

I was just there, day before yesterday, but that didn’t seem to be enough. I needed more. More of what, I wasn’t quite sure.

But more of something.

It was immediately apparent that the mass of flowers and candles and posters and cards and teddy bears had grown substantially in the two days since my last visit. There were, perhaps, a dozen people there at the time.

I was taking in all the new additions to the memorial, when suddenly, a nearby woman looked straight at me, indicated the woman standing next to her and exclaimed, “This is Gabby’s mother!”

A lovely, diminutive, gray haired woman smiled broadly at me and affirmed, “Yes! I am Gabby’s mom!”

Her smile, nearly bigger than she is, loudly and proudly proclaimed her joy in that fact!

I stood there, for a split second, wondering what on earth I might find to say to this woman who is going through something I cannot even begin to fathom.

And then, I burst into tears.

I was immediately enveloped in a hug that seemed way too big to come from that little body. She hugged me and hugged me and patted my back and murmured soft words of comfort to ME!

I should have been comforting her but it was the other way around.

She insisted that Gabby’s family doesn’t want us to feel sorrow for them. They want us to feel no anger. Instead, they want us to rejoice and be grateful and happy and spread peace.

Before I left the house this morning, I chose a photograph of a collage I made and usually present as a card. This time, I just used the picture itself. The collage is bright and happy colors and has the words LOVE, PEACE and JOY on it.

When I showed her what I had brought, Gabby’s mom’s smile got even brighter. We visited for a few more minutes before that gracious lady left.

I felt as though I had been touched by an angel.

It’s possible that I was.

There’s more to this story, although, none of it better than those few moments I spent with Gabby’s mom.

I had noticed a young woman talking with people and writing in a notebook. I figured she was either a local reporter or a college student working on notes for a paper. Turns out, Ashley Powers is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times.

She interviewed me for a good while and though I doubt she got much worth using in a story, it was interesting to be pushed to answer questions fully. She wasn’t satisfied with my initial, off-hand responses to her questions. She kept following up until I got to the bottom line of what I was really feeling and thinking..

It was a good experience for me to get the answers to some of those questions, which I otherwise might never have asked of myself. She’s good!

Eventually, I returned to my car and my list of errands.

A favorite thrift store is in the same shopping center as my hairdresser. So, I went in to see what treasures I might find, especially looking for some larger, more comfy jeans!

I must digress here for a moment.

My beloved Lazy Boy recliner should have, long ago, been relegated to either a dump or a squatter’s camp! Replacing it has not been high on my list of ‘possibles.’ Firstly, a new one is not in the budget! Secondly, I want the same color as my old one. That color is no longer in ‘vogue’ so I didn’t think my chances of finding one I liked as well were very good.

Are you ahead of me yet? I bet you are.

Yep! A Lazy Boy recliner, which looks brand new and is the exact same color and smaller, ladies’ size as my old one, is now gracing my living room! The price?  $29.00!!!!

I was so excited I almost forgot to look for jeans. However, I found three pair that looked like they might work. Hoping at least one pair would fit, I tried them on and each and every pair was just right!

The purchase of all those items set me back a huge $34.53!   I am NOT lying to you!  On top of already ridiculously low prices, today was Senior Discount Day!!!

I got my haircut. I got my comforter washed.

I got a lottery ticket!

I figure today is, most assuredly, my day for special blessings!


Am I gratful?

You bet!

And I'm hoping each of you have a day of special blessings, just when you need it the most.