Who Knew???

You can read the panic on her face as she attempts to save me and my offspring from some unknown terrible fate.

The last thing she heard from me was a scream and then the phone went dead…

Now, seconds later, my neighbor and friend stands there is disbelief – poor thing — after almost breaking her ankle on the jump rope/Tonka truck “ booby-trap” that my (future military engineer)  seven year old son had set up across the gate door to our back yard.  Her face transforms from pain and extreme concern to confusion as our eyes meet.

I can imagine what she is thinking as my friend views the scene.

There is a huge beach umbrella attached to my grille. The grille itself is completely toppled over and upside down on the ground next to the back walk. The yard has gone silent..All other children have fled the scene – fearing the wrath of their mother.

I had just pulled my youngest child out from under the rubble and he is standing with his arms wrapped around my leg – crying.

The three year old  is covered in black soot. The poor child’s face is streaked with grayish muddy lines of tears forcing his blue eyes to shine brighter than usual. There are upturned chairs and child size tables on their sides. There is glass and goldfish scattered all over the back deck.

A weird scene from Alice in Wonderland gone bad…. ?

Nah…Just another day in the life at the Holloway house…

I remember when we were looking at homes here in Norton. The quaint little town had many different types of homes –  mainly in little neighborhoods with good sized pieces of property.. All affordable.. Even at the height of the market… We felt Norton was a hidden gem…

We found our cozy little home. It was small, but in good condition. It had a pool,  a good sized yard, it was a stone’s  throw to the schools and minutes from the highway. Like everyone else house hunting at the time, prices were high – and everyone was looking for a deal.. A way to afford the American Dream and still raise a family… Give them roots in a community … A neighborhood….

Well , one of the main selling points was when my neighbor and her three girls came outside to sneak a peak at the potential buyers (us)…  We were sold…

Anyways, I was both relieved and embarrassed to see my neighbor- gone superhero-  as I dusted off my little one.

So often,  she swoops in to save the day…  And although she claims her middle daughter to be the hero in the family… (And after triumphing over multiple brain surgerys and radiation all before the age of 13.. I would have to agree ..)  She most certainly deserves the title as well..

Funny how  the true heroes in life go unnoticed for their deeds.  You know,  the ones who stand beside those who are fighting to survive.. The ones who would trade places with you in a minute to ease your pain.. the ones you never see cry….  The ones who risk life and limb to break through your back gate to make sure your ok…..

Yep.. My neighbor.. My friend —  surely has a hidden super hero cape in her closet..

Anyways,  there my neighbor stands with an expression that I really can’t explain in writing… She slowly puts her hands up in the air and opens her mouth to speak. I stop her and say, “You would not believe me if I told you….”

I guess it was a moment in time that served as one of those metaphors for life….

Even when your prepared.. Life throws you things you could not ever expect or imagine.. And the aftermath is sometimes humbling… to say the least.  You really cannot spend your entire life looking for the unexpected or trying to protect your loved ones from invisible evils…Sometimes you cannot do anything but wipe away the tears, kiss the boo boos, hug and  clean up the mess…

If you are lucky.. You walk away a little wiser.. a little stronger….

Well, we stood there for what felt like forever…

Seemingly at a loss for words (which is highly unusual) I finally said, “Who knew that grilles could fly..??”

And with that,  we shook our heads and smiled. It seemed that all the weight of the worlds we lived in was lifted — for just a brief moment….

Really.. “Who knew??”…..