Big Heroes Little Peeps

I was driving home the other night about 7:30 in the evening. I was traveling down a very busy road. Suddenly a duck with 7 ducklings was crossing the road in front of me. Against my father's advice I swerved to miss them. I'm glad no one was in the other lane.

Two people behind me swerved as well. All three of us pulled over to get the duck out of the road. It turned out to be a dumb duck. Before we could get close to her she walked over the sewer grate. And plop, plop, plop, plop four of her ducklings fell through the drain.

I drove the mother duck with her three remaining ducklings back to the canal so they would be safe.

I tried to pull off the grate but couldn't budge it even a little. The guy left saying it didn't appear that there was anything we could do. The other gal and I just stood there listening to the loud peeps coming from the drain. I tried the grate again but it didn't work the second time either. So, she and I put our heads together. She tried the city offices and animal control but they were both closed. She tried her husband who worked for the city water works. He said all they could do would be to flood the drain. Well, that wasn't going to help.

Then I had a thought, "Where is the Fire Department?" I drove down and met the captain. I said, "I don't know if you do this sort of thing..." He said, "let me grab a couple of guys.

Of course they came with a big truck and a little truck.

They took two very big pry bars and muscled the grate off. Then the captain jumped in the hole. I could here him talking back and forth with the guys on the road. The next thing you know a bucket gets handed up

My new friend found the Mama duck on the other side of the canal. Here is what followed

I love happy endings!

My Dad

My trip to California was emotional but good. It was hard to say goodbye to my parents home of 48 years. It’s always been somewhere it could go. Of course it was hard to say goodbye to my father as well. Though I had been prepared for this for some time but you are never fully prepared to lose a parent.

My father’s funeral was moving. Good talks and lovely music. However the best part was the honor awarded him for his years of service. He served in the navy, was an ambulance driver, a scout camp director and finally a deputy sheriff for 20 years. My nephew followed on his footsteps and is now a deputy himself. He and two of my brothers had some surprised in store for us.

First, a 1968 Deputy Sheriff car led the way to the cemetery. Second at the end of the funeral we were surprised to hear the strains of a bagpipe playing Amazing Grace. Finally, he had an honor guard of deputies carry his coffin to the grave. They then folded the flag from his coffin and awarded it to me. The flag goes to the oldest child. I was so grateful that my father received the honor he deserved for his years of service.

Horror & Heroes

Two of these brothers were at the finish line of the Boston Marathon when the bomb went off. They had come to cheer on their friend a firefighter. They were with the firefighters family. When the bomb went off the brothers shielded the firefighter's mother, daughter and aunt and took the brunt of the explosion. Each of them lost their right leg.

I know this is a terrible thing but, as my children know, I've always believed that heroes are made or at least uncovered in times such as these.

Many have quoted Mr. Rogers, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things on the news, my mom would say to me 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." I love this quote. Others were quoted with similar thoughts. One said there will always be more good people than bad. I agree.

We can focus on all that is bad in the world or we can focus on how many people will sacrifice themselves to help each other in times of need in acts big and small. I believe in the goodness of people.

My God and Savior

For years I bought into the belief that I should be ashamed of my failures, mistakes and sins. I believed that some things I had done had ruined me forever, that there was no hope, that I was bad and worthless.

My mother told me the story of the goldfish she had when she was first married. She said she watched as one grew bigger and bigger while the other stayed small. One day she stayed to watch while the fish ate. She noticed the big one chasing the small one away from the food. Ah ha! That was what was happening.

The next day she stood perched over the bowl as she sprinkled in the fish food. When she saw the big fish chase away the small fish she tapped him on the head with a teaspoon. I don't know exactly what happened after that but I don't think it was a good outcome for the fish.

Many of us have been taught to believe that God is like my mom up there with a spoon just waiting for us to make a mistake so he can hit us on the head. It's not true.

Instead God is like a parent watching a child learn how to walk. A parent doesn't yell at a child in his first unsteady steps. He encourages and even supports him. This is the God and the Savior that I know. They want us to succeed. They cheer us on and give us unseen support beyond what we imagine.

Welcome Spring

It's close to the Hindu holiday of Holi. It is the celebration of spring. I love this idea. Celebrating the end of winter and the arrival of spring. I have been in a state of gratitude since Christmas. That's not to say I have not had days of sadness but for the most part I was able to be grateful for what I have and to trust God that there is purpose in the trials.