Today’s story isn’t so much funny as it is a reminder of how unexpected experiences in life can touch you in dramatic ways and make you stop for a moment in time and realize what is truly important. This weekend, my heart was touched by Ben.
Ben is only two years old.
He is also one of the younger residents at the local not-for-profit organization serving foster care children who have been removed from their homes due to physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse, abandonment or neglect.
Little one’s girls scout troop teamed up with an older troop for a service project funded by the proceeds they received from all that work selling cookies. We arrived at the facility, located on a vast plot of land deep within the tranquil woods, with the mission to serve up some fun.
About 23 kids ranging in age from nine months to about thirteen were treated to pizza, dessert, a few rounds of bingo, and gift baskets full of toys and books for each home unit. The girl scouts were to partner up with the younger ones to help them play.
As the kids excitedly ran into the festively decorated meeting room, I felt a hug on my leg. Looking down I found the sweet, smiling face of Ben looking up at me.
He skipped over to take a seat at his normal dinner chair out of routine, and I took the seat next to his to help him play Bingo. More interested in wrapping his tiny hand around two of my fingers, he wasn’t much for conversation. Following my instructions, he would fold the tab of the numbers.
His sister arrived to sit by his side. Obviously wiser than her three short years, she lovingly checked to make sure he was alright as he adoringly stared at her as if she was his whole world. Obviously her presence was a comfort to him.
After Bingo was over, Ben suddenly had a change in attitude and shot me a scowling look while pouting in the chair.
Teasingly I asked, “Ben…are you sitting on your smiles?”
Laughter erupted from his tiny mouth as he leaned to his side in order to grab up the invisible smile beneath him. Again and again he motioned that he had more smiles he was sitting on as he giggled and placed them on his face while saying “More smiles”.
Leaning down to his level, I softly whispered, “Ben, if you are ever feeling grumpy or sad, just remember it’s because you are sitting on your smiles.”
Later we were all out on the playground, and Ben walked a red, pedal-less tricycle around a small concrete circle and playfully attempted to run me over a few times saying “gotcha!”
The lack of pedals made it impossible to ride properly, and I remembered I had just donated a tricycle months earlier. I wished I still had it to bring to Ben. Not even beginning to imagine what trauma these angels have endured, you want to reach out and hug them all…and give them the world.
All to quickly it was time to go, and I walked over to Ben, still circling on the sidewalk. “You take care, Buddy. OK?”
He turned to look at me with a sad expression and then motioned for me to wait. He dismounted the trike in order to remove a lone imaginary smile from the seat. Placing it on his face, he grinned from ear to ear.
These kids had a rare treat, the caregivers felt special, and 15 girls scouts saw what it’s all about.
In the journey of life, everyone deserves pedals. I’ll see that Ben gets just that.
Innocently hanging out at my computer working, I was unaware that the bug man had arrived and was working his way around to the back of the house. 
I’ve been stuck at home all week with a sick 6 year old. Completely out of milk, I made a desperate dash to the store that erroneously included swinging by the Daisy Troop meeting to pick up a fundraiser order. Secretly that was just an excuse to make sure cookie order forms weren’t going home because…well…I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT I tell you. 
After arriving at the clubhouse in a nearby gated community too early for the meeting, I decided to run to the grocery store first. In my defense it was dark and I’d completely forgotten about the guard gate. Slamming on my breaks as hard as I could, I knew it wasn’t going to stop in time and I was going to crash right into it. Visions of previous cars I’ve owned flashed before my eyes.
Summer because I’m a warm weather person that doesn’t like when the temperature drops below 70. Bundling up in layers of clothes makes me feel stiff, uncomfortable, and unproductive.
Hmm…favorite? It is just a necessity and I can’t confirm that I could ID it in a lineup. I didn’t know there was going to be a test like this or I would have purchased something exciting to write about.
It’s SAN not SCAN. I have no less than 15 of these things floating around in various electronics, and I would have bet money on the name…and lost. Which explains why I don’t gamble and why I began to question all that I thought I knew about the world around me.
Attempting a weird adaptation of the yoga 
Is there anything more frustrating than car troubles? 
Turns out some new cars have a manual mode. I was in first gear…all morning long…about 25 miles worth of errands. Nicccceeeee. I felt sooooo stupid.
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