"isn't it wonderful?"
I'm supposed to be getting myself ready to go to the parish office to finalize and send this weeks bulletin. But, I'm a writer, even worse, a reflective and sometimes poetic writer, tedious to some, so, here I am writing this out of myself, sharing it with the world--more prudent personages than I would say I should save this for my private journal..........heck, why do that? They'll be published and read after I'm dead anyway, may as well share now!Remember the holiday movie "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart? That's the old movie where Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, the good guy who never gets to go anywhere. The big bad banker in town makes George's life so miserable that George wants to jump from a bridge--suicide--and then an inempt angel named Clarence shows up to help George out. George ends up seeing what life would be like in the world without him, decides he wants to live, and, if I remember correctly, when George comes into the house where the bank examiner is, says with a big smile: "I'm goin' to jail--Isn't it Wonderful?". I went through a time when I liked this movie, then, I went through a time where I hated it, couldn't bear to be within earshot of it. I won't go through the long litany of heartbreaks, failures, bitter dissapointments, etc., it suffices to say life has been hard, as it is for many.Yesterday, our older son, our daughter-in-law, our granddaughter, and our grandson visited. They also brought us an older but good used car....which I can't drive yet due to a tangle in paperwork...so it is sitting pretty in our driveway. More waiting over something which I have very little control.Usually, this would throw me into a tizzy, and it did a bit after the kids left, but oh! those precious memories of the day, and while many memories are something I WILL write in a private journal, two stand out more than any: 1) Our granddaughter sitting in a room by herself working with clay, and, when I asked her if she wanted me to stay with her, she said "yes"....so we made clay pumpkins with faces like jack o'lanterns. 2) As they were getting ready to leave, I called out if they wanted me to send the rest of the cookies I'd baked home with them, I heard at least one "yes", and, as I was packing them into a bag, our little grandson found me, looked up at me and said with a bit of a question, and a bit of demand, "Cookie...". So we asked Mom if he could have one or half of one, and, when she agreed to half of one, there was the little guy's big face running off with his prize from this middle-aged granny.Now I have to go back to Real Life: Did you know there is a car in your driveway that you can't drive yet? Do you realize you are nearly 50 and have no financial or social status and that your student loans that you racked up while trying to "follow God's Will" are going to follow you to your grave? Do you know the Christianity you have sought to be a part of all your life is quickly "going to Hell in a handbasket?" Do you realize.....Do you know.......Yeah. I know. Isn't it Wonderful?Somewhere, a bell rings.'Attaboy Clarence"
