This past month I have had the opportunity to truly count my blessings. And there are so many to count. I have a job. I have a home with a roof still over my head. I have a wonderful husband and two amazing, healthy children. I have my mom.
Even though I really need to win the lottery, I feel so fortunate in my life and I wanted this blog to focus on positives. But I considered “Life and Loss” as the title, because of what so many others have lost in recent days and weeks. Hurricane Sandy – Frankenstorm, or Super Storm, as she has been not so affectionately named – destroyed homes and neighborhoods, uprooting lives and devastating communities. In Breezy Point, Queens, whatever wasn’t flooding was on fire. Up in Westchester, two preteens were killed by a tree that fell onto the cottage where they sought shelter. My own neighborhood was hardly touched; yet just a few miles away there are people still without power and some still floating through their basements. Volunteers from all around stepped in to help – strangers becoming friends. Yet in one area of Staten Island, residents reportedly wouldn’t help a grieving mother by calling 911 when her two young boys had just been torn from her arms and swept away in the severe flooding.
Even closer to home, literally in my neighborhood just before the storm came our way, two young children were stabbed to death by their nanny. She was someone their parents trusted, and loved like a family member. While some people might be comforted by the fact that there’s not a deranged killer roaming the streets killing at random, others are second guessing the trust they’ve placed in their caregivers. In both situations, parents are afraid of leaving their children anywhere.
Earlier this year, our cousins lost their middle child to a brain tumor after a 5 year battle. This was a different kind of tragedy. I used to work with children who had terminal illness and I helped their parents through the pain of those deaths…to the extent that I could. I’ve lost a parent, but I won’t ever be able to fathom the pain of losing a child.
I said I wanted to focus on the positives here…well, my sister and my in-laws got their power back and had no damage to their homes. Our cousin found her dog who was ok after being separated from the house and family in the flooding. Another cousin just had a baby this week. My mom, in Rochester, hasn’t gotten bad weather yet. Our niece is thriving at age 2 and a half (she had open heart surgery as a baby). A friend of mine has a new and very successful children’s book recently published. My younger son is enjoying reading a book. My older son WILL get into high school.
Once again, I am thankful for my health, my home, my family, my friends, my cats, and yes, my career. The extra time during “Sandy” that I had with my children was pretty cool, but I actually missed going to work. And while they appreciated some extra TV time and an opportunity to sleep in a bit, they clearly missed the structure and socialization at school.
Thanksgiving is approaching, and I have much to be thankful for – I wish only the same for you.