I was at this awfully pretty gathering of houses in Point Loma, San Diego today. On the way home from taking baby and family for an outing. We were incredibly excited to see a community filled with the most wonderous christmas lights I had ever witnessed... rivaled solely by the fireworks display in Aspen, Colorado commemorating the culmination of the World Championships.
Enthralled and feeling lucky we stepped out shivering in the cold (well, 50 f is still cold!) and wandered into a wonderland of santas, multicolored lights, moving lit reindeer, polar bears, disney characters.. dank trees converted into yellow, sparkling popsicles by a huge wrapping of lights.. pathways trimmed with red,green and blue lights and reindeer threatening to ride off the roof with santa in tow! We were taking in the sights slowly shuffling between huge houses and guessing they must be worth a couple of millions when a notice board caught my eye.
It said there was hot cocoa for sale, only for a cause. I didnt pay much attention since I was busy reading the chalk-scribbling on the sidewalk.. something about staying calm and keeping faith.. hmm.. always useful advice, I thought to myself and continued my fantasy walk. A few blocks later I stopped in my tracks to read that the son of the inmates of the most-heavily decorated house was being treated for gunshot wounds! The cocoa-with-marshmallows-sale was happening because the family needed money to meet the medical bills from unexpected skull-repair surgery.
I was amazed.. no, shocked. Its not the type of news you associate with the kind of warm, fuzzy display of lights that was on that night. The family and children behind the cocoa-sale counter bore a remarkable resemblance to the boy's photograph on display on the notice board. While I did sip the cocoa gratefully, I could no longer focus on the lights.. I was just amazed by the way the family was handling this incredible trauma. Being a self-confessed wuss about protecting family, I have no idea how I would deal with a health crisis, and probably didnt ever think any family could be as graceful as they were when facing such intimidating circumstances.
Forget my whole barrage against the gun laws in effect, but to accept that violence entered your doorstep and to yet continue with an incredible vigor to bring out the festive cheer that was apparent in this household.. I felt was unbelievable! I can never forget the purposeful determination and will with which that household was dealing with their problems.
There I was, clutching my little cup and imagining not 5 minutes ago that my troubles in the world were worthy of my worry and happiness.. when I had my own little cozy family safe at home to tuck beneath sheets and smile at the next morning. Did I really have any reason to complain? Do I really have any reasons to think the times were tough? Did I really think I had any reason to be other than happy? Well, upto this moment if I ever did, it got blasted to smithereens by the show of spirit by that one family. Will Barton -- your spirit had permeated far, and permeated well. Thank you for being strong when many would falter.
(Story at: http://www.10news.com/news/man-shot-in-the-head-during-violent-crime-spree-speaks-about-his-recovery12072012)
Enthralled and feeling lucky we stepped out shivering in the cold (well, 50 f is still cold!) and wandered into a wonderland of santas, multicolored lights, moving lit reindeer, polar bears, disney characters.. dank trees converted into yellow, sparkling popsicles by a huge wrapping of lights.. pathways trimmed with red,green and blue lights and reindeer threatening to ride off the roof with santa in tow! We were taking in the sights slowly shuffling between huge houses and guessing they must be worth a couple of millions when a notice board caught my eye.
It said there was hot cocoa for sale, only for a cause. I didnt pay much attention since I was busy reading the chalk-scribbling on the sidewalk.. something about staying calm and keeping faith.. hmm.. always useful advice, I thought to myself and continued my fantasy walk. A few blocks later I stopped in my tracks to read that the son of the inmates of the most-heavily decorated house was being treated for gunshot wounds! The cocoa-with-marshmallows-sale was happening because the family needed money to meet the medical bills from unexpected skull-repair surgery.
I was amazed.. no, shocked. Its not the type of news you associate with the kind of warm, fuzzy display of lights that was on that night. The family and children behind the cocoa-sale counter bore a remarkable resemblance to the boy's photograph on display on the notice board. While I did sip the cocoa gratefully, I could no longer focus on the lights.. I was just amazed by the way the family was handling this incredible trauma. Being a self-confessed wuss about protecting family, I have no idea how I would deal with a health crisis, and probably didnt ever think any family could be as graceful as they were when facing such intimidating circumstances.
Forget my whole barrage against the gun laws in effect, but to accept that violence entered your doorstep and to yet continue with an incredible vigor to bring out the festive cheer that was apparent in this household.. I felt was unbelievable! I can never forget the purposeful determination and will with which that household was dealing with their problems.
There I was, clutching my little cup and imagining not 5 minutes ago that my troubles in the world were worthy of my worry and happiness.. when I had my own little cozy family safe at home to tuck beneath sheets and smile at the next morning. Did I really have any reason to complain? Do I really have any reasons to think the times were tough? Did I really think I had any reason to be other than happy? Well, upto this moment if I ever did, it got blasted to smithereens by the show of spirit by that one family. Will Barton -- your spirit had permeated far, and permeated well. Thank you for being strong when many would falter.
(Story at: http://www.10news.com/news/man-shot-in-the-head-during-violent-crime-spree-speaks-about-his-recovery12072012)
