You Are Not Alone

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This husband and I…

Deemed the day after Christmas…laundry day…headed to the EZ Kleen…loaded the machines…stood there waiting…a middle aged woman entered…filled a machine nearby…cute…tiny…dressed in black…all but a silver cross necklace…just hitting…below the collar…

She sighed…looked over…started to share…she was running late…was worried she’d get hungry before the laundry was done…works home health care…her client got sick over Christmas…so was staying at her daughter’s…she’d get by…with the loss of income…

This old gal…asked if she’d had a nice holiday…it was as good as it could have been I suppose…she replied…then gave a sad little smile…and said…but I’m tired…

And there it was…our eyes connecting…that sad smile of hers…complete understanding…this old gal…got it…knew exactly what she meant…the Christmas season is glorious…the build up to the big day…exciting…

But if this old gal looks deep down…deep deep down and is honest with herself…when it’s all over…not taking anything away from the religious significance…a mom…is tired…so much hustle bustle…so much work done to make the magic…and then…it’s done…over…

And if this old gal is honest…looks deep down…deep deep down…this mom…is a little sad…too…thought it would be a relief…keeping it simple this year…wouldn’t have that stress…the exhaustion…the hustle bustle…but there was a hole there somewhere…that remained…at the end of the special day…

And here she was…a new laundromat BFF…sent to say…Old Gal…I feel the hole too…holidays can be like that…but you aren’t alone…everything will be…ok...
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And those daughters of mine…agree…