The other Shoe

I have started this blog entry three times today. Why is it when things are seemingly going pretty good, they take a set back.
I used to classify it to Sherry as waiting for the other shoe to fall. Sherry and I have fought through two sons who got deep into drugs. Months of personal anguish. Not knowing whether they would be in jail or the morgue. I have waited at the back door of the police station while the duty Sgt. Brings my son out, the one you remember who was as cute as could be. The one you thought you would never get potty trained. The one who made you proud with good grades. The one who was good at athletics. The one who had a wonderful sense of humor. That kid who could smile and melt your heart. The boy who could ride a motorcycle like the wind and win races. The boys who filled their rooms with family bowling trophies. The boys that sang in church and made you proud. You remember the first fish they caught and you helped bring it in. Yes that is the boy.
Now some Sergeant, who is working late, has worked with drunks and drug addicts all evening, and put up with all kinds of abuse, brings your lovely son out and hands him over to you, not saying it, but you can see it in his eyes, ‘Here, take this piece of $hit out of here’.
The boys over came that, became successful men, raising families. Everything is beautiful. Grand children to love and spoil. Little leagues games to go to again. School plays and soccer games. All is well with the world.
THEN THE OTHER SHOE FALLS….
Now you can suffer through their hurt in a different way. DIVORCE. You feel their hurt, but you cannot fix it. You see them broken but you cannot make the repair the break. You just cry with them and hold them. That was one divorce. Then the next……. Now all is right with the world again.
THEN THE OTHER SHOE FALLS……
Accusations, etc.. Another divorce, late in the boys life. They have everything, but the family is torn apart again….. You know, it doesn’t matter who is at fault, it hurts!
Then you wonder when will the hurt end? When will things settle down? When will you have peace of mind? Because your children are always your children. You still see the bright eyed youth, facing the world, ready and willing to attack.
We decided years ago, we will enjoy the good times as much as we can, because sure as heaven’s above another shoe will drop.
That is the way life is. We climb one mountain after another. This week a good friend climbed her last mountain. Tomorrow we will say good bye to her. The funeral is not for her, she is gone. It is for we that are left. Louise will rest in peace. Life will go on and we will try to live with peace.
Thanks for reading this true confession. I have learned that there are many lives much worse than ours, so I am glad to be alive. Here to share the good and the bad.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Lets dance like no one is looking.
Live like we don’t have much time.
Love while we are alive.
Hope while we still have health.