You Make Me Happy When Skies Are Gray...

My children always make me smile!

I am reminded of the song that my late father was always singing...you are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray... It is a gray day but oh that rain is so needed and it always serves to make home all the more cozy! I want to send a warm thank you to special blogging friends, Penny and Mary! Both recently gave me another "You Make Me Smile" award. I can never express enough how humble these awards make me. If anything I ever post makes any of you smile then I am completely enriched by your very grin! I was recently asked if I WAS always smiling. Well, of course not! Still, and perhaps it is my, ahem, advancing age but I have come to realize that something to smile about can ALWAYS be found. Even in the murky midst of pain and fear. 6 years ago my father suffered a horrible stroke, one that would eventually take his life. I immediately went to TN to be with my folks. My father was in the University of Tennessee hospital, a bit over an hour from my parent's home. Each day, for 6 weeks, I drove both my mom and myself there and back. We would spend each day talking as we drove, visiting with family and friends in the ICU waiting area, deciding what to eat that afternoon and evening...okay. I know this sounds funny doesn't it? But you do find yourself looking for things to enjoy, something to find comfort in. The hospital had a kickin' cafeteria. Truly! There were also area restaurants who took turns serving up their fare to the doctors, families and even some patients. It was there that I met Andi Edmonds. Andi is a writer in Los Angeles. She was, at that time, a news writer who had taken leave to be with her parents. Her mom and dad, while on a Smoky Mountain vacation, had been in a horrendous car accident. Sadly, her father died but we stood watch over her mom just as we did over my father. She and I bonded over "I Love Lucy" reruns. Uh huh. She noticed that I could mouth every bit of the dialogue and decided we HAD to get to know one another. Mom and I took Andi a huge care package the next day, things we thought would be a comfort to her, and a sweet, enduring friendship was born. Her son, who was 5 at the time, flew in and spent the remaining weeks with her and, yes. I came to adore him. We took this little guy to get his Halloween costume, we made runs out to Sonic for onion rings and Cherry Limeades, we even popped out to a movie occasionally. Oh, here is a recommendation...if you are trying to cheer yourself up, "American Beauty" may not be the movie to see! But I digress... Andi's son went trick or treating at the hospital along with countless numbers of staff dressed in various forms of silly attire. We hugged lots of family members who, like us, were there keeping watch over a loved one. Like soldiers in wartime, we bonded over our shared fears. I really do not know why this all hit me today and what, if anything, this has to do with a sweet "You Make me Smile" award. Except for this...it was during that time of fear, when I knew I might well lose my father, while I worried over my mother's health, as I was painfully missing my husband and son (who drove over every 3 weeks, as did my brother and sis in law, to be with us) that I found so many precious things which made me smile. There is always something sweet to be discovered if you allow yourself to look for it. It is, I believe, part of our nature as human beings to need that smile, that laugh, that giggle, when you least expect to find one. It is life re-affirming. It is necessary. Hundreds of studies have been made on the health benefits of smiling and laughter. I think that some comedians should receive an MD based on their laugh inducing skills alone! I never thought for one moment that smiling or laughing was in any way an insult to my father or his condition. As a parent, I have already instructed my son to look for those smiles if he ever finds himself in the same position. Smiling and laughing are gifts from God. Happiness is often elusive but it IS there, perhaps not in the places you wanted it to be, but you will stumble upon it if you look hard enough. So, smile today. Smile tomorrow. Just try it...even if you have to force yourself. Try flashing your pearly whites at a stranger. I promise it will bless both you and those who receive that pretty grin. I smile each day when I think of all the joy I have received from blogging. I am coming up on my first year anniversary and believe me! I had not clue one where this would lead... I want to thank all of you for each smile, giggle, warm *hug*, your support, your inspiration and your friendship. Now, go out there and smile....go ahead...bigger...BIGGER!! THERE! That's it!