Thankful

My lord am I thankful, for a lot of things.

For a whole day where we had nothing we 'had' to do. We went and visited family and dropped off items that had been in the back of our pickup for 2 weeks and no one bothered them at all. Now they are being stored in my in-laws garage. My mom came over as my dad is still sick (at one point the doctors though emphysema, but us uneducated people knew better)... and Keeley had a great time being loved on by both grandmas and aunt Denise and her friend Bailey (assuming that's the way it's spelled). I was really surprised at how much Keeley responded when my mom talked, but our voices sound very much the same and I imagine the child was wondering why there were 2 of me running around and talking to her, but she liked it just the same. Such expressive looks and movements on her face.

After we had our visit we went to the Super Wal-Mart. Yes, I know some of you hate it, but really, it's better than the alternative, which is kind of like paying too much for car insurance, some times you have to do it, but you don't really want to. Anyway, I was thankful that my child was healthy before, but I am doubly, triply, quadruply glad now. This lady was in the bathroom and was taking a while, so I assume she had some business to take care of. She had about 4 kids, 2 of them teenagers that appeared to be mentally challenged, they appeared to be twins or close to it, with facial deformities and odd tics and ways of behaving even for teenagers. Then there was another one that seemed similar but younger and finally another child, who shared the same facial structure but without the deformity and she appeared to be the most mature even though she looked about 10 or 12 years old. They were outside of the bathroom for a while fake punching each other and clowning around and then they go into the bathroom and talk to their mom through the bathroom stall. And here this poor mom was just trying to go to the bathroom in peace and her kids are there with all their problems and I bet at some points she just wants to flush her head down the toilet. Yes, I am a million times over glad that my baby is healthy.

I also am glad we have money and a job. I saw the weary look on this mom's face, she was wearing an older coat and looked like she hadn't taken time to get her own hair cut in several years, but her kids were clean and happy looking. They were strumming on the guitar hero thingy with delighted looks on their faces and I could tell by looking at the mom that she wasn't sure she was going to be able to afford the thing, but she was going to try to get it for her kids for Christmas. Do you know what I mean? There was just a look of desperation to the situation that I remember 'feeling' when we 'waz po' folks'-- the funny thing is I had just said to Matthew on the way to visit family that I didnt ever want to be po' folks again, but if I had to, I could do it. Seeing that situation made me want to cry. I know wanting everyone to be 'even' is called socialism, but I don't care, no mom should ever feel like that. No woman should have to let herself go just to take care of her kids' health and well being. But millions of them do it every single day. And don't complain.