October 20, 2006

Inspitation from Anna

Sometimes you get a bit of inspiration that hits you like a slap in the face - completely unexpected.
This week has been fairly typical for me. I worked overnights on Saturday thru Thursday. I'm sure there were lives saved, the typical battles against emphysema and acute coronary syndrome, and the ever constant interactions with the acutely psychotics with whom I tend to enjoy a little more than I would like to admit. I think being able to see crazy people in the ER helps me keep from tilting too far in that direction.

And I trained, although not as much as I wanted to. I ran some, with a pr long run of 13 miles. It was the only running I have done since race for the cure last weekend. A little swimming, even less biking (a measly 14 stationary miles this morning...).

Lots of time being daddy. Frequently I am asked how I take care of the kids during the daytime after working all night. I never have a good answer, because I honestly am not sure how to answer. It is absolutely insane actually, but it h as to be done. The oldest girls have to get to school and back home, and to ballet and of course to Barnes and Noble for reading and yummy cookies. The younger two just need daddy, Anna to have someone to play with and sing to and say I love you to (so often it is adorable), and Aidan it seems mainly to point out every tractor and firetruck to (again and again and again until I acknowledge that yes Aidan, there is another tractor, and to be as interested as I was 64 tractors or 20 minutes ago...).

So this morning I got a reminder of how much pleasure I get from the most simplest of things. Poor Anna is 3 and has always had a little trouble with constipation. I heard her struggling on the potty this morning, and, as usual, I went to see if I could help in any sanitary way. I sat down in front of her, let her lean into me and wrap her arms around my neck while I rubbed her low back. And so we were for what seemed like 10 or 15 minutes until at last "Daddy it's coming!!!" And after she finished and found me in the playroom dressing Aidan, she ran to me and hugged me and in her oh-so-sweet voice, "Thank you daddy for helping me go stinky. I love you!" I love you too Anna...

1 comment:

Tracy said...

I think being able to see crazy people in the ER helps me keep from tilting too far in that direction.

I work with at-risk kids at an alternative high school...emotionally, criminally, academically... you have no idea how much I can relate to what you just said here, and how fortunate I feel on some days because of this.

So this morning I got a reminder of how much pleasure I get from the most simplest of things.

And this along with your example...I just sat here and smiled... for a really long time.