Well... the other day I was informed that my friend starts her day with morning tea in hand and my bright shinny blog spot in face. I didn't realize I was the start of her day - poor soul - many dissapointments these mornings! A blank screen. Yes, my friends I have had February blllaaaassss... Not sure I have ever experienced this type of "winter downs" (whatever they call that thing). I never knew what it felt like to not want to get out of bed and hiding from reality with the covers pulled over my head and pillows on top to prevent the blowing heat whistling through the vents from rippling the sheets off my face.
Depression? No. Explain it? Probably can't really. Sun deprived? Yes - absolutley. Didn't realize what it was until early last week when we were blessed with an afternoon of sunshine. All of a sudden I felt revitalized and refreshened...it was so awesome - like a face lift almost. Face lift would give me a cute date - sunshine just a spirit lift......
This evening was filled with some weird events one thing after another that prevented me from actually sitting down with my son and a friend to enjoy the dinner I was trying to cook. One of the things was that just as I was finishing the cooking process a little knock came to my door. Upon peering out my front window we see a tiny girl with her hands up around her little face trying to catch a glimpse of us. Major tears could be clearly seen streaming down her swollen red face. We opened the door and welcomed her in - recognizing her as the neighbour's little three year old. She poured in crying that she wanted her mommy and daddy, causing us immediate alarm. We calmed her down and asked here where mommy and daddy were - and she responded "working". I think you can only imagine the concern we experienced that moment.
I then continued to question her asking if anyone was home with her. She responded that her old uncle was home. Thoughts that maybe something happened to the uncle sprang to mind, and I left the cute little one with my friend as I headed to the neighbour's home. I rang and rang and rang the door bell for about five minutes when finally the uncle appeared. I shared the story of our little visitor and he, looking irritated and a little sleep deprived (or something) in his broken English asked me to bring her back. When I came back and told her uncle was home and wanted her to get back, she had an immediate look of concern and worry and shared she wasn't going home - said she was staying with us and watching t.v.. So, I did the journey back to share with uncle that it was o.k. with me if she watched t.v. for a while. I so didn't have the heart to send her back as she looked so upset. Anyway, old uncle gruff said "grab her by arm and pull her home"... (Likely buddy!) Don't get me wrong, he has always appeared to be a nice guy but he is most certainly one of these old school guys (Portugese) and I wasn't arguing with him - yuck... neither was I going to drag that child back.
Long story, she did end up going back as she thought her daddy had come home in the big truck that pulled up. However that little girl's face keeps coming back to me for many reasons. I think of the scared lonely children out there in this world, in fact right in our neighbourhoods, I think of the abused children around the corners. Reality of how easy it is for a child to get lost and dissapear struck like lightening (thank goodness she came to my house and not wander down the street somewhere).
I don't believe she is an abused child - I think that mommy and daddy have their hands full as young parents trying to make ends meet and provide a home for their child. Yet, those little brown eyes and pretty face kind of haunt me tonight - as I shared moments of her own real fear of mommy and daddy not home and being stuck with old uncle who just doesn't fit the bill of mom and dad nor good babysitter. I can only touch the surface of imagining children who may never experience the joy of when mommy and daddy finally make it home. The little souls that lay in bed aching to know the love of a mom and dad. Grab your little monster children today - and just hug them - refresh their memories of just how much they matter to you. Oh, and don't leave them with old uncle to be babysat......
Night.......................
