Saying Goodbye

Saying Goodbye comes in many different forms. Some are happy, some are sad, and some, well.............are both really. But one thing is certain, they are never easy.

Tonight I listened to my sister say Goodbye to her dearest friend. In these last few hours I have found myself saying Goodbye to my dearest friend all over again. It doesn't get easier. Time may heal hurt, but it does not erase memory. I listened to my sister cry. I listened to her hurt. And I found myself wishing I could make it all go away for her. And yet I can't.

Death is not always a bad goodbye. It's just hard. I sat, after our brief phone conversation, thinking of that day years ago (well not so long ago, I guess) of when my best friend was killed. I didn't even get to see her. It was a closed coffin funeral. And yet, as I have talked with my sister these last few weeks, I do not know which is easier---seeing it all or never seeing. I guess the thought that hit me, is that it really is true. God knows what each of us can handle. My sister is strong. She has sat by her friend's side for weeks, holding her hand, talking with her, watching her to the end. And I wonder if I could have done that.

It doesn't matter. God bring into each of our lives exactly what we need to make us stronger people, and by that I mean individuals who become more dependent upon Him in our weakness.

Saying Goodbye is not always bad.......it just isn't easy. It is always with us, popping up to remind us now and then that our time here is brief. Make the most of it.

Bad Vlad

I officially have a beeper! Yes, I am one of those people that I have spent my life until this morning making fun of. Never again though. I will be most compassionate, as I am now one of those people whom most people hate.

First of all though, let me introduce you to Vlad. I met Vlad on my birthday. 2009 that is! :) I liked him a lot at first show, although I was slightly disappointed in a few things at our first meeting. But I held high hopes. The next few months brought a mild distaste of Vlad as a series of circumstances created some bad memories and expenditures. Life did settle down though, and by December, I liked Vlad. Missed him a lot over Christmas. I saw occasional things that reminded me of him, but nothing was quite the same as Vlad. I got back, we met up again, I was so proud of him. Even had a few funny moments.

Until this morning.

If you have not already guessed, Vlad is my car. Vlad the vibe. Doesn't that sound so cool! He is red, you know! I remember when I got him, the most fascinating thing to me was his set of keys that had keyless entry! Whoa! I had updated in the world.

Until this morning.

AS I walked out of my apartment at 6:30 this morning, it was cold, quiet, and dark. Most people are still sleeping at that time. Not this morning. As I walked along, all of a sudden I heard this beeping sound. Come on! How Rude! WHO would beep so loudly at 6:30 in the morning.

Ha! ME! My Vlad.

Apparently, my finger had held down that little red thing on my key that I always wondered about. 25 loud beeps later, I realized that I was now one of those beepers.

So annoying. To think that my car does that! Bad Vlad!

Humor Comes in All Shades and Sizes

NO, I did not mis-spell my title. I truly meant to say "shades and sizes". The story goes like this.

I have a new car: a 2009 Red Vibe GT. I kinda am starting to like it and am quite picky concerning its treatment. I left it here all Christmas break---3 whole weeks. Of course I worried about it, but knew that I had left it in good hands. I returned to Wisconsin to find it unhurt and in beautiful shape, as the folks who car-sat for me wiped all the snow off. It looked quite good for the roads being so messy and every one else's car looking like mud dumps.

Then Friday night came. I had an invitation to a friend's house for Stromboli and games. I promptly arrived in time for pre-dinner chatting. Their ice machine had quit working, so he thought he would run out for ice. However, due to my parking location, either he would have to put a battery in his van, move my car and get his other vehicle out, or drive my car.

I of course was feeling rather kind, so I allowed him to use my car for his errand, cautioning him mildly to not wreck my car. I stayed behind and chatted with his wife. Minutes later her returned with ice. We sat down to eat and wait for our other friend and the games, when he announced, "Well, I didn't wreck your car, but I did the same thing I did to Tim's car......I turned too soon and went into the snow bank, so I had to dig your car out." I made light of it, but of course, felt someone apprehentious about my car.

We proceeded with a rather fun evening of food and games, and parted ways a little before midnight.

Saturday I woke to errands. I dressed and went out, briefly circled my car to see that there were no problems, and went on my way. While waiting to get air in my tires at a nearby auto shop, a little boy and his father walked in. The little boy looked up at me and said, "Did you know you have a green light sabre stuck under your front bumper." All I could say was, "Huh, I do?" To which, the father said, "Yes, a green light-sabre under your front bumper." I walked outside and sure enough, there it was, a green light-sabre under my front bumper.

Amazing. I mean some of us truly mean it when we carry around extra safety insurance. Needless to say, I did laugh the rest of the day, except for brief moments when I recalled that had the little sabre been even an inch lower, it could have torn my front bumper while backing up my car.

Anyway, I went to church Sunday morning, light sabre in hand. I laughed as I got out of my car as I pondered that some people carry their Bible to church. Me, I go for double security---Bible AND swords. I was prepared for the day.

I sat down in Sunday school. My friend's wife (also my friend!) walked in and started to crawl over me to sit down when she saw the light sabre. I grinned and said, "That's yours." She burst out laughing. Well, we both did.

Needless to say, between the light sabre, air conditioning on full blast, and windows fogging up, my friend did a number on my car.