Wednesday, April 12, 2017

That Kind of Stuff Only Happens on TV

Sometimes I get confused. Penny, my beautiful disc bound Happy Planner, manages to keep me in line most of the time. But sometimes I do get confused.
Penny (Me & My Big Ideas Happy Planner)
Such was the case a couple weeks ago. My dear friend's mother had recently passed away. I have known this family since I was in 7th grade and it was a shock that, after winning the battle against cancer, Susie passed away. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that I was going to her funeral, and I would be there early to do whatever I could through this stressful event. But Princess Pea Pod had two friends spend the night and both sets of parents had to come before I could leave. I dashed out the door and was quickly brought to a standstill in traffic due to an accident. As it happened, I was running hopelessly late. My anxiety was through the roof as I dashed in (in the most ladylike manner) and signed the guest book, then ducked into the restroom to calm myself.

I walked into the chapel and everyone was already seated. It was silent. And I didn't recognize a soul. Now, we've been friends for a very long time and I know this family. I didn't see any of them. Not one familiar face. Then I looked at the casket and though, "Hmm... I thought she was going to be cremated."

Hello, anxiety. Back again so soon?

There was a lovely portrait next to the casket. It was a portrait of a lady who certainly was not Susie.

No joke, y'all. I went to the wrong funeral. The wrong ding-dang funeral!

I thought maybe I had gone into the wrong chapel, and that I would be late. The fact of the matter is that I was a week EARLY! I called my friend. "You're not going to believe this. I went to the wrong funeral." Let me tell y'all, her laughter made it all worth it. And Susie? Yeah, she would have totally laughed. Totally.

Now, if I can't laugh at my mistakes, then they own me. And I'm not going to be owned by regret or shame. So I laughed with them. I laughed with my friend and her family. I laughed with Hot Daddy and Princess Pea Pod, with my family and my friends. Because, as this friend said when I told her my tale, that kind of stuff only happens on tv... or to me!

Book Review - Splendor of the Land

Time and place fall away as vivid details bring the reader face to face with the characters of Splendor of the Land, the third book in The K...