Da Count in Friday 55-Looking Out for Each Other

FRIDAY 55

 I trudge into the house at the end of a long day.

The house is a mess.

I shuffle through the pile of mail in the foyer.

Junk...

important...

junk...

junk...

Ooohh, a letter...

from my stepmother.

I open it to find

 encouragement,

 affirmation,

 an explanation, 

an unexpected gift she says is not a loan.

DA COUNT

 

It's been a long week, not a bad one, just a long one.  On Wednesday morning at work a patient came in and asked who had the purplish van out in the parking lot.  I let him know it was mine.  He told me I should go check it because it looked like the left rear tire was loosing air.  Once the patient flow slowed down a bit I checked it and sure enough it was flat as could be.  I was really glad to know that early enough in the day to get a hold of Mr. Lime so he could take care of it when he had time during the day and I didn't walk out to an unpleasant surprise at the end of the night when I was exhausted and the tire shops were closed.  That patient saved me a huge inconvenience and headache.

Thursday night I came home tired and rather frustrated by certain things I won't go into here.  I came inside and saw the day's mail sitting in a pile.  I went through it and sighed in some relief not to see any bills.  Then I noticed a personal item from my stepmother.  Personal letters and cards put a smile on my face just because they are...well...personal.  Inside was a funny card with a surprise.  When I opened the card a check slid out onto my lap and I saw a long note inside.  I read the note explaining how my stepmother was aware all three of her kids were having significant cash flow issues and how one of her aunts had been a help to her when she most needed it and without asking.  My stepmother decided (and was clear to state it was HER decision about HER money in spite of knowing my dad is going to be less than thrilled) it was time for her to send some help to each of her three kids.  The note alone had raised a lump in my throat simply because I am so blessed as to have a stepmother who considers me as much her own child as she does the son she gave birth to.  I finally opened the check that was in my lap and was dumbstruck by her level of generosity and that it was given with absolutely no strings attached.