Proud

This morning didn't start out looking like a promising day. It was one of those rare days when I didn't snap right up when the alarm went off. In fact, I actually languished several minutes and wondered if I should call in sick. I didn't. I hauled my monkey butt out of bed and started the morning ablutions.

I managed, somehow, to suck toothpaste into my windpipe. Let me tell you . . . having done this twice now . . . it is a very unpleasant sensation. You have this horrifying realization that you are going to suffocate in a minty fresh cloud of death.

So, coughing, gasping, and sputtering was followed shortly with . . . um, making with the dinosaur mating calls. I have a weakened constitution in the morning. A hearty enough cough can bring on a bout of calling Ralph.

I dressed, and headed out the door. Sadly, none of the growing number of puffballs were on the porch to greet me. I stopped by the gas station near the high school for a fill up. I made with the chit-chat with the woman who runs the store. I observed that she was going to get to spend the day watching the high school kids parading around looking like adults (today was graduation day). She, with tears welling, said that she was really happy. She said that many of the kids she'd watched grow from immature and shaky freshmen to seniors about to embark on the planet. She said she was as proud as she would have been if they were her own grandchildren.

It was a nice turn in perspective today. Now, if my car can make it through the night without getting egged.