Showing posts with label getaway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label getaway. Show all posts

Thursday, September 18, 2008

The Great Girl Getaway by Angie Ledbetter

My sisters and I took our mom on a little journey a few days ago. I'm sure we were all hoping for various outcomes from our trip to a Mississippi Coast casino, but I got exactly what I wanted. Was it a big, fat, Greek jackpot win? A day of R&R off life's hamster wheel? Grazing at the casino's legendary buffet?

None of that crossed my mind, although any of it would've been a nice bonus. No, what I hoped and prayed for was a good time for our mother. She's always dearly loved spending time in front of a video poker machine, and hasn't gotten to do that very much in the last year since becoming ill. But, durn it, we made that trip and she had a blast in the jingling, jangling, flashing casino!


I'm filled with gratitude and honor for the opportunity to make our girl's escape. It was fun and it made memories that will stay with me forever...especially this look on Mom's face:


{Photo by Angie Ledbetter}

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Regret Less by Angie Ledbetter

Sunday, the traditional first day of the week. I wonder what today will hold? My two sisters and I are taking our mom on a short trip, as she’s been very ill for almost a year and has been itching to go somewhere. She’s always loved nothing more than cozying up to a video poker machine for hours and hours, so we’re going to fulfill that wish for her at a large casino and spend time just the four of us for an overnighter. We’ve got the meds, supplies, wheelchair, and insulin packed and our don’t-leave-home-without-it Bag O’ Snacks that has always accompanied us on every journey.
After so much bad weather lately, we’re hoping for sunny skies with maybe just a light sprinkle or two. I’m grateful for this time and for this getaway. Three people close to me have lost a loved one suddenly in the last week, so I know what a blessing it is to have as many good days as possible to spend with those I care most about. Hopefully, in the future, I won’t have as many shoulda/woulda/couldas and regrets hanging over me as some people do. That is a blessing for which I'm truly grateful.

All this pondering about time and loss of loved ones and regrets got me to wondering if there are things we can do to minimize those dark cloudy feelings, besides the obvious of doing today what could be put off until tomorrow or later on. How do you live more fully each day pursuing the things, people and plans most important to you?

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