My Invisible Brake

After over a year of being chauffeured around by my 18 year old son I should be used to it, right?! Wrong! Last night while riding home from church I realized why I'm so tensed whenever I came home. I can feel it all over my body. My neck is so stiff. I move as if I'm wearing a neck brace. I don't think the best masseuse can loosen the knot that's growing in my shoulders. Just thinking about my legs and how they're so sore upon the exit of his vehicle makes them hurt as I'm writing this. Why so much drama?! Not with my son, but his with momma. I figured it out last night. It's the brake pedal that's on the passenger's side. My side!

This brake pedal wasn't put in the car by the manufacture. Neither my son nor my husband install it. Who installed the brake pedal that I've used for over a year now and has cause such harm to my body? Some may say it's a figment of my imagination. But how can something that's so real or at least seems so real be my imagination. Could my imagination be running away with me? Of course not. It's real. I use it. Maybe my husband uses it too, but just don't want to admit it.

Admission.....hmmm.....

Maybe I just don't want to admit that my son is a young adult now and he knows how to drive. Maybe I won't admit that it's hard for me, a mom, too see him as a man developing into his own identity. After all, he did tell me when I address him and his brothers by trying to get there attention not to used the word "boys" But they are my boys. Ooops! There I go again not admitting that my son is a young man. Since I am admitting some things, maybe it's time I admit that I installed the invisible brake pedal.

"I installed my invisible brake pedal."

The Obedient Wife

The Obedient Wife
by: Robert Arthur Miller

There was a man who had worked all his life, had saved all of his money, and was a real miser when it came to his money.

Just before he died, he said to his wife...'When I die, I want you to take all my money and put it in the casket with me. I want to take my money to the afterlife with me.'

And so he got his wife to promise him, with all of her heart, that when he died, she would put all of the money into the casket with him.

Well, he died. He was stretched out in the casket, his wife was sitting there - dressed in black, and her friend was sitting next to her. When they finished the ceremony, and just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said ,

'Wait just a moment!'
She had a small metal box with her; she came over with the box and put it in the casket. Then the undertakers locked the casket down and they rolled it away. So her friend said,

'Girl, I know you were not foolish enough to put all that money in there with your husband.'

The loyal wife replied, 'Listen, I'm a Christian; I cannot go back on my word. I promised him that I was going to put that money into the casket with him.'

You mean to tell me you put that money in the casket with him!?!?!?'

'I sure did,' said the wife. 'I got it all together, put it into my account, and wrote him a check.... If he can cash it, then he can spend it.'

In Memory of Isaac the Iron

After all these years that Isaac and I have been together, he decided to die on me. I couldn't believe that he had the nerves to do that at a time when I needed him the most. Why couldn't he just hang on for a few more weeks? For my sake and the sake of my family's clothes. Didn't he realize how much I needed him today?

I know I may have had a strange way of showing my appreciation for Isaac. I left him on for hours at a time. I didn't do it on purpose. I was in a rush. Now it's too late for me to apologize to him for all the head trauma I caused him by dropping him on the floor. I should have picked him up and comforted him, but instead I just kept walking. He was thirsty and wanted to blow off some steam, but I never gave him any water. I thought maybe he'd just be a man and suck it up. I thought he liked all the starch I would put on the clothes. He would just sear on contact, so I didn't bother cleaning his plate from all the black goo. Now it's time for me to let him rest in peace.

He deserves a decent memorial service, but I may be the only one in attendance. You see, my family didn't know Isaac. They've seen him, but never bothered to develop a relationship with him. Maybe if they had taken the time to get to know him, Isaac would still be alive. Maybe if they knew how much I used and depended on Isaac for my sake and theirs, they would have had compassion on him. That's okay because at least I was here during his final moments.

Isaac's death will not be in vain. Before the actual memorial service, I will go to WalMart and get one of his relatives and bring him or her home to say a final farewell to Isaac.

The picture above reminds me of the earlier days when I first met Isaac. He was so full of joy and longevity was his promise to me. I just made a final promise to Isaac. I promise to take care of his relative that will be coming to live with me soon. I will keep his relative clean and give him or her water. Most of all, I will introduce his relative to all my other family members.