The number 17.. doesn’t seem significant. In fact, it’s really a pretty unpopular number. When you are 17 you can’t wait to be 18.. it’s an odd number.. and one I don’t think most people think much about. I mean it’s not like 20.. or 21..or 50.. or even 10… just a number. Comes after 16, comes before 18…blah blah blah.. a boring number. Little did I know it would become a very important number in my life. One I will never forget….

As I promised, I am going to tell my story. And I am going to tell it from MY perspective. A perspective I feel not only doesn’t get told but needs to be. I would have never, of course, dreamed I would be where I am right now and most days I STILL can’t believe it. And as I continue to experience this new way of life I struggle to understand where I belong, how I got here, and what the future holds. I know God is by my side and trust me, He and I have a whole new relationship! 🙂  He is the reason I make it through each day and I will be talking much about Him in this story. He has been leading me, I believe, to do this…and when He talks I listen!

And please believe me, I realize there are MANY people out there with bigger problems than I. I also realize my life could be worse and I am still a VERY blessed person. But, there are also many out there who have, and are, and will, experience what we are going thru. And as I have traveled down this road I have met many like me who had a story to tell, and I listened. Not only are there not many of us who listen but there aren’t many who even KNOW to listen, or even realize there is a need to notice. Those of us who find ourselves in this position are silent bystanders who just want to be acknowledged…not interested in rewards, sympathy, or even notoriety.. just LISTENED to and UNDERSTOOD.

I hope as I write this story it not only brings an understanding but helps anyone out there who needed to hear it. I feel there is at least someone out there needing to read this or I wouldn’t have been so strongly lead to write it.

Thank you ahead of time for reading and I hope it brings something to your life. Please feel free to join in the conversation and leave comments or questions.

I will start from the beginning…

5 days before 17 days….

O my gosh, I am so exhausted. It’s only 6:30 Tuesday morning.. why am I so tired? Ugh.. maybe because dear husband has been gone for over a week and I have had no help. Must be nice trotting to Florida and hanging out on the beach while SOMEONE ELSE stays behind and handles everything. MEN… I don’t even have time to debate it or complain about them. I have too much to think about and too much to accomplish. Maybe we can argue about it later..but I doubt either of us will have time.. I am sure he will have big important things to do when he gets home.. like watch the Cavs game! GRRRRRR

I’m glad I got a workout in because OF COURSE the old period is due tomorrow and once that ocean flows there ain’t no jumpin or runnin gonna be going on!.. “C’mon Mom!!!” Good grief this child! How can you be 12 and be “A” personality already? If I am not pulling out of the driveway at EXACTLY 7:35 she is going into full panic attack mode! “I am going to be late Mom!”..  “I’m coming…. relax.. just let me grab my keys.”

Well, doesn’t that figure.. I forgot my phone. Back home I go. Luckily we live 2 minutes from the school. As I am looking for my phone I hear someone walk in the door which startled me. Who is that?  “What are YOU doing home?” (It’s the husband) “I got to work and didn’t even make it in the door. I got REALLY nauseous as I was walking thru the parking lot and felt dizzy and was pretty sure I was going to throw up..so I let work know and I came back home.”… Well, that’s just great. Now on top of everything else I have a sick husband. Of course the world will stop now and I will have to take care of him..again the MAN thing..still no time to complain. And I may as well forget the list I wanted to accomplish today.  I bet he got that stomach flu our oldest daughter’s whole softball team had in Florida. GREAT… and there he goes.. I am quite sure he will be living in that bathroom..please don’t have it coming out both ends.. please don’t let us get it, the child has 3 games this week and I just DON’T have time. Mom’s never have time to be sick. OMG I am already so behind.. JUST FIGURES!!!

Okay.. gotta regroup.. just gonna get done what I can get done. I hope this is a 24 hr. deal and gets over with quick! Man.. there he goes again. And he looks terrible. My oldest daughter said it was a really bad bug… I better call Big B and warn him. He may end up with it since he was there too. I am gonna tell Hubby to just stay in bed. And I better quarantine him into the spare room because I don’t want the baby to get it. (I was keeping my neighbors sweet baby girl at the time and she slept in our room)

3 days before 17 days…

6:00 a.m…. I better get Hubby up.. ooo wait I better go to the bathroom first.. here comes the ocean.. gotta love being a woman..  “Hubbyyyy… wakey-upey.. (that’s how I wake him up..lucky guy isn’t he???)”.. “I am not going in.” Ok.. he has now missed 3 days of work and can’t even get out of bed..what kind of bug is this? And why aren’t any of us getting it? I am giving him one more day and he’s going to the doctor… but knowing him he will refuse so I see a battle coming. But.. as I always say.. I am bigger-I WIN.

2 days before 17 days…

” I think I feel a little better, not enough to go to work but I feel better.” Well, I’m not even going to force the doctor issue because I know he won’t go.. he’s feeling better. It is early though we will see how the day goes.

10:00 a.m. Good grief.. he’s cutting the grass??? Wow..he MUST be getting better. Gosh I love to watch a man do chores… seriously so attractive. Maybe he can clean the garage next.. ooooo baby :). Better yet I may send him to the dollar store.

4:00 p.m. I am going to scream if these people don’t get movin! We are going to be late. He could at least load the GPS or load the car.. what is he doing???? Do I have to do EVERYTHING myself! I was ready to give him a piece of my mind and I look at him and he looks awful AGAIN. “You don’t look so good… maybe you should stay home.”… ” Nooooo I don’t want to miss her game I will be fine.”

I really don’t like this. He is STILL sick. That’s it. He’s going in tomorrow. I have never seen a bug last this long.. I wonder if it’s some weird one like from another country. Who knows??? He wants to drive to the tourney? Why? Well, ok…but I better drive home. I am just not feelin good about this whole thing. He looks like a really sick person..like someone just released from the hospital. I will trust his judgement for now but tomorrow I take the reigns and he goes.

O the softball world. I so much love the parade of red wagons that travel from parking lot to field and field to field and field back to parking lot. A staple. They will I am sure one day name an arm ailment or some neck or back problem after the softball wagon.. like ” Little red wagon disease” Anyway.. Hubby weirdly was avoiding pulling that lovely wagon and I was wondering why. Next thing I know we were leaving to go home and he made another bathroom trip.. and it wasn’t a good one….

Until next time.. be a blessing..share a blessing.. be blessed  xoxo