Military and Bell
When I was growing up, our doctor decided I was allergic to chocolate and caffeine. I don’t remember any actual tests to verify this and for the life of me, I can’t imagine why I never questioned it, but for a long time we thought it was true.
So, ever dutiful to doctor’s order, I abstained. Whenever we ate out and could order a special drink, I did what any child who was allergic to caffeine would do.
I ordered Mt. Dew.
Who knew?
It looked like sprite.
I also went on the slim fast diet where you mix up that powder stuff with milk, only we didn’t have skim milk.
So, in an effort to lose weight, I drank 24 ounces of whole milk.
Every day.
And tonight. Tonight I discover that my little green tea fizzy water that’s supposed to help me give up my diet cokes is more tea than water.
It’s mountain dew.
Lying in the bathtub, drinking the little fizzy stuff, I start to read. Hmm. Why is there a caffeine content on my water bottle.
And that could explain why I haven’t been sleeping.
And my apologies to neighborhood parents whose children may or may not have been allowed several of these caffeine-waters during a rather hot day of trampoline jumping last week.
But that’s not what I’m really writing about. I’m writing to tell you there’s something else that’s a little weird about Fremont.
It’s flat.
Totally flat.
And for some reason this causes cracked sidewalks. I don’t exactly understand why but there’s probably some science-y explanation, so let’s just go with it.
But first a review for any new readers:
18 months ago: Military and Bell. Voice of the Lord. Do the hard the I’ve called you to do.
Sunday: Military and Bell. Voice of the Lord via redneck truck loud-speaker. Run, Momma, Run.
Today. Military and Bell.
No. I’m not kidding.
But this time He doesn’t speak. He trips me.
I don’t know, maybe He didn’t trip me. It’s possible I didn’t see the gigantic crack in the sidewalk and it’s possible that I didn’t get my feet up far enough and it’s possible that I’m just that uncoordinated. But still.
Military and Bell?
Again?
And I didn’t exactly trip. I flew. Superman style. Face plant, flat down on all fours. Blood starts pouring from both knees and because I reign from a very long line of weak stomachs, I start to get sick.
I’m trying to remember. Head between knees? Feet above head? Please God, I know you are here. Here at Military and Bell. Please don’t let me throw-up in front of all these cars.
All of these people.
And I just sit there. 1 minute. 2 minutes. 5 minutes.
And then I see it. And y’all probably think I’m going to get all emotional about how nobody stopped to help me, just like nobody stopped to help me in the torrential downpour a few weeks ago and if I spend too much time thinking about it, I do kind of wonder what all those people thought as they were passing by, but no. I’m not going to get emotional. I’m embracing the fact that some people just end up running in downpours and flying across sidewalks and those “some people” are me-people.
Anyway, I see it. Amidst all the pouring red and crumbly rocks, a hole.
In my lululemon.
A HOLE!
And I did want to cry.
Later we’re at Emma Claire’s soccer game and she runs back and forth and round and round and she’s trying to keep up and stay up and I see her whisper to her coach and he stops the game and says, “OK. Hurry!”
She runs over for a hug and a hat. Mostly the hat, I guess.
And his coach yells to her, “Come on, ya little diva.”
And my heart smiled. She is totally a little diva. She thought nothing of stopping the game for her own comfort and style, and it was in watching her run and twirl and catch the eyes of each parent, that I thought, “Oh honey. You will be there some day.”
Just like your Mom. Running, leaping, falling. Not because of flat Fremont and not because of cracked sidewalks and maybe not even because the Lord tripped you to get your attention.
It’s because you dream.
And what’s going on around and beside and behind is sometimes far more fascinating than following the ball that’s right in front of you.
After the game, a mom came up to me and said, “Did I see you at the corner of Bell and Military today?”
Uhm, yes. That is a possibility.
“Yes! Yes! I saw you sitting there with your head down. I would’ve stopped but the light had just turned green and I figured you were waiting on Mike (my client).
And you know, the more I think about it, that really makes for a better story, so I’m just gonna go with that.
I was waiting.
And dreaming.
Raising Magnolias 