A Good Boo!

Happy Halloween my pretties!

I'm taking a breather between kindergarten costume parades, Bella's (aka Supergirl) dentist appointment, and Luke's class party, to sit down and catch up with you.

The theme of the week at my house has been the pursuit of wellness.  Meaning, frankly, we are all sick.  Our house is engulfed in a haze of sneezing, colorful/soggy Kleenexes, headaches, trips to the pediatrician, coughing, and the metallic tang of antibiotics.  I am wondering if yellow caution tape would properly deter germ-free trick-or-treaters?  The bright side of being sick is a newfound appreciation for being well.  I always take it for granted when I can run unencumbered...well rested and able to breathe deeply.  Now if I can take Mercy for a walk, I am doing well (wheezing up the hill, towed by my enormous hound).

At the same time we are mired in our germ ward, my father went on a golf trip with some friends and got sick.  He bowed out of golfing one day and stayed home; when his friends returned they found him pale and doubled over in pain.  Long story short, they called 911 and he has been in the hospital in Arkansas all week.  He had an acute attack of pancreatits, which is supposedly equal to childbirth on the pain scale (this only counts if a woman created the pain scale). He has been on IV fluids and painkillers and we are waiting for his enzyme levels to stabilize.  To top it off, today is his birthday and I am not sure how to celebrate Halloween without Dad.  Normally we tote wine glasses, cruise the neighborhood and watch my kids trick or treat, and come home to dinner at my house with apple pie for dessert (his favorite).  Our fine dining (take out) is interrupted by the doorbell, the cacophony of dogs barking, or my kids erupting on a sugar high after they have counted their candy in Ebenezer-Scrooge fashion.  It's not an ideal night for a birthday, but it perfectly suits my father because it isn't all about him. He is a man who revels in the happiness of others. 

I miss him today.

I take it for granted that he will be around when I need him.  I take it for granted that he will be well, that we will all be well, and able to enjoy every single holiday and tradition the way we always have.  I take it for granted that ordinary times are always going to be ordinary.  I take it for granted that I wake up healthy every day and able to care for my children.  I take it for granted that I can stumble, bleary-eyed, into my running clothes and run as far as I want.   I take it for granted that my environment is safe.  I take it for granted that I am protected.  I take it for granted that I have a place to go and people to see who want to see me too.

So today, on a day typically dedicated to boo and candy, I am creating a new holiday.  If I am going to be scared by anything on Halloween, it's going to be the magnitude of what I take for granted.  All those statements above?  They are headed into my journal tonight after I tuck in Supergirl, Batgirl, and Darth Vader (can I tell you how sick Luke is of me?....(insert creepy vibration voice) "Luke, I AM your mother.").  Every single "for granted" statement is going to be rewritten as a "gratitude" statement.  I don't care how late I have to stay up, or how much candy I have to eat to stay awake, or how many germy tissues will be wadded up on the floor next to my bed. Tonight it goes down on paper.

It's not entirely a bad thing to get a good BOO! once in a while.  Especially if it isn't too scary.

God bless and godspeed to all of you who are running NY this weekend.  I am running a half marathon and no matter how I'm feeling, one this is certain...I'll be feeling grateful.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From Women