To be humbled...

     One of my least favorite nursing instructors left me with a few nuggets of wisdom.  I still wonder why I didn't like her.  She talked about a patient, almost making a mistake and being humbled.  She says nurses need to be humbled often.  It keeps us honest.
     Today, I was sitting at the chiropractor's office and telling my third grader about the time my dad forgot to pick up his big sister from school.  I laughed talking about how bad my dad felt and the cheesecake that he bought her.  A little while later, I heard my phone ring.  I looked at the clock and gasped.  "I FORGOT TO PICK MAX UP!  I FORGOT, I FORGOT!  I'm on my way!"  My husband was calling to let me know that he was on the way to pick up our middle schooler.  I felt horrible.
I can give a list of reasons why I forgot.  His sister usually gets him, I worked last night, I'm tired, I.....
     I sat out in the drive way worried about how Max would greet me.  He just sorta grinned and said he wanted to text me "Forgot something?", but he didn't have wifi.  He wasn't upset.  He found out a long time ago that I'm fallible.  Quite frankly, I learned the same thing.  I guess it was good to get a reminder.
     It seems to me that most people in this world use being 'better than' to differentiate themselves.  They point their finger at someone else's folly.  They pretend that they are not capable of making the same mistake.  Somehow this makes up feel better.
      Well, I've come to accept that my next humbling moment is right around the corner.  I'd better not get too comfortable. 
I still owe a middle schooler a milk shake.  We'll get one this week.

The Day of the Dead

 

 

 

All Saint's Day is probably my favorite church day.  It is the day that you remember all that have gone before.  It is a day to gather some grief and place it before your community.  I remember it as an important day while growing up in the Lutheran Church, and later as an Episcopalian.  Since we now attend a Methodist Church, we don't recognize the liturgical calender.  I think this is what I miss most.

So, the effort for me becomes bringing these observances into the home.  I watched a TV show the other day and they had an altar set up for remembering dead friends and relatives.  A few google clicks later, and I realize that The Day of the Dead is very real tradition.  I decided to start it.

So, I visited the grave yard today.  I looked at tombstones of people I haven't thought of in a long time.  I had placed their memories somewhere else, and I was glad to retrieve them for a bit.  I've especially missed my grandmother lately, so I placed some pretty Autumn leaves at her grave.  I also spent some time going through old photos and found more than I expected.  I also placed a hunting knife and old friend gave me before he died. 

Grief is a slippery thing.  It is hard to really get a hold of, and if you aren't careful you can avoid it.  I can see real value in compartmentalizing a time to remember all the souls who are gone.  The dark, rainy day certainly added to the effect.  Earlier, at the cemetery, it was just windy.  I read that this means the spirits are restless.  In this time of year where the veil gets very thin, it was a good day.  Even if it was the day of the dead.