Starting with the day they were born, I occasionally wrote letters to my kids. I wrote about something they did for the first time, or things currently happening at the time, and all kinds of whatever. One reason I did it was so that if something happened to me at work, they could read, later on, some recollections and observations. Another reason I did it is all too damn apparent right now: so when I tried to recall when something happened with one of them, I could look it up. Of course, I don’t have the notebooks with the letters with me right now, when I need them.
Suffice to say my daughter was very young — 3 or 4, no more than 5 years old. Her mother came home from work in the Level 1 Trauma Center emergency room after I left for work in the Projects. Before I returned home in the morning, she noticed Mama seemed a little down and pensive. Parents are often amazed how perceptive young children are. So she asked Mama what she was thinking about. Mama said a little girl had died the night before in the E.R. My daughter looked at her as if she was trying to fool her. My daughter then exclaimed, “KIDS don’t die!” She said it as if she had been told elephants can fly, with a big grin on her face.
When I got home, her mama smiled as she blinked back tears, and told me how my daughter had responded with exasperated incredulity in her voice. I hugged her mama, and then went and hugged my daughter. Yeah, it was so innocent and sweet. I didn’t tell either one how I thought it was sadly ironic or why. I went in the bedroom alone, and thought about the girl my daughter’s age who fell out of a bedroom window from a 15th floor apartment during my midnight shift. I wished my daughter was right. But kids do die sometimes.
This season is for children…..of all ages. I wish them all well. I still believe in Santa. Why? Because I GOT to, that’s why! If nothing else, it can’t hurt. So go make somebody smile or laugh, and see how that makes you feel. If it don’t make you feel good, at least it won’t cost ya nothing. This time of year, not much you can say that about!
Walk In Beauty and PEACE Lobo
