The Other Shoe

If you live in the Midwest, you've heard of the impending doom headed our way this afternoon in the form of thunderstorms with LARGE HAIL DAMAGING WINDS DEADLY LIGHTENING. Of course, our church picnic is tonight, and I was planning to take Maddy. She looks forward to the rides and I look forward to the beer tent.

Even in the shadow of that threat, I woke up in a good mood this morning. It's amazing how wonderful it felt, after not experiencing it for so long. It's like my Mammaw used to say when I'd bump my knee - "just think how good you'll feel when it stops hurting."

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, there was fresh air coming in through the open windows this morning. Even Maddy got up after only two tries.

Walking into work this morning, the breeze was sweet with a hint of cool air and the smell of the hot dog vendor's wares being prepped for lunch. The air was clear and the sky was blue.

I think I've lived the past months waiting for the other shoe to drop, always bracing for what else could go wrong? And when I get a rare good mood, either something happens to ruin it, or I feel guilty.

Today, I don't care about what could go wrong. I'm enjoying this happiness, however brief it might end up being. And if it does rain and we can't go to the picnic, Maddy and I will sit on our covered front porch and watch the storm, light candles in case the power goes off, and shriek like little girls when the wind whips the rain on us. We'll hold each other during the loud thunderclaps and laugh when we jump out of our skin at the noise. We'll enjoy the calm after the storm and the clean rain smell in the air after the chaos blows away.