Last weekend we were at our usual Friday night restaurant in South Bend with friends and family when Stevie showed me a photo of his cousin taken with two playboy bunnies. Seems his cousin had been invited to the Playboy mansion in LA for a party and had his picture taken with these winsome wenches. As the story goes, he actually had a date with one of them the next night. Needless to say, all of the young (and not so young) men at the table thought it a fabulous good fortune and were busy dreaming of their day in the bunny spotlight. Stevie (who loves to tease the #$@% out of me) pips up with "Hey Mom! How about if I bring a couple of bunnies home for Christmas? Can they sleep in my room with me?" As we bantered back and forth good-naturedly, it was with a wistful sigh I realized my son is indeed a young man, ready and willing to take his place in the big world.
Earlier this week I was getting one of Stevie's suits ready for the cleaners and a consistent "jiggling" sound thwarted my attempts to empty the pockets. Finally I slipped my hand into the inside chest pocket in search of the errant "coins." How surprised was I as I pulled two medals out of Stevie's coat pocket. One of St. Michael the Archangel and the other of St. John. Yes, my "little" boy is gone but there is a sensitive and strong young man who has taken his place. He may dream of Playboy bunnies but he is aware also of a deeper, truer Power, beyond his ego and this materialistic world we live in.
Isn't life funny? In one hand She is constantly thrashing us with opportunities to "let go" and at the same time Her other hand gracefully gives us gifts of unspeakable joy.
An incredible story Kathy....hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
Posted by: Jennifer White | October 11, 2009 at 12:04 AM