Friday Ramblings: the angry man at Starbucks the nice man in the car and the anxiety attack I had ov

I overheard my son talking to his friend in the other room.

"Yeah...you know...I am the kind of guy that is friends with all of the girls. I am not really looking for a relationship right now."

He's eleven.

My daughter Belle walked in the door and announced to her younger sister, Annie, "Annie, God is my foundation!"

When Annie did not reply, she said again, "Annie! Did you hear me? God is my foundation!"

I was so proud of her.

And then I realized.

She had just come back from the make up section in the grocery store.

What she actually said was, "Annie, I got us foundation!"

An older gentleman at Starbucks yesterday looked less than amused when my friend and I sat down next to him. At the giant farm table. That seats many people. In the center of the coffee shop. Because there was no where else to sit. My friend, sensing he did not enjoy our company, apologized for us sitting so close. Barely looking up from his phone, he stood up and announced, "I guess I am not sitting in the quiet zone"...and left. Since when did coffee shops become the library?

Speaking of the library, I want to go today. I am dying for a new book. My son...you know, the one not ready for a relationship, started reading the Hunger Games yesterday at school, then came home and finished the entire book. I was jealous of his ability to sit on the couch for HOURS with nothing else to do but read.

Speaking of my son reading for hours, part of his school team plan, to keep him on track, is for me to receive these communication letters from the teacher... every day. Note to any parent who might be in a similar situation: always read it with a grain of salt. Preferably, on the rim of a glass, that is filled with margarita. And comes with re-fills. On his sheet yesterday it noted that my son would not get up to go to his next class because he wouldn't stop reading. This was in the "off task" section. Which is why I cannot be a school teacher. Because I would have put this in the "way to go kid, keep on reading, that next class is boring anyway and nothing stretches your mind and heart like losing yourself in a good story" section.

The wrens appear to be done moving in, which is a good thing. We had lots of pouring rain yesterday, and if you have ever moved in to a new place, you know what a nightmare it is to move in the rain. Good job, birds.

So yeah, the bird thing. It is borderline obsessive. I changed up their food yesterday, and seriously went into a panic. What if they don't like it? What if they go to the neighbor's feeder? I also brought the finch feeders in to clean, and felt enormous anxiety. I asked my husband, "Do you think they are upset that the feeders are gone? Is there a chance they will leave to find food elsewhere and never come back? I don't want to lose them!!!" I am pleased to report, all of the birds came back. And I am in therapy.

I have been late to Mass every morning for the last two weeks. A few days ago, I made a huge effort to get there 25 minutes early. I have been praying this beautiful prayer, Preciousness of Silence, and was just dying to sit in front of the tabernacle, in the quiet, and pray this prayer of silence. As soon as I got on my knees, the woman who keeps our church beautiful, started to vacuum. For 20 minutes. She vacuumed. The entire church. So much for silence.

So that communication sheet from school? It also said that my son put his finger down another students shirt, which I suppose is inappropriate...unless...your parents allowed you to watch the Impractical Jokers the night before, and sent you off to school singing, I put my hand in your shirt.

While making a left turn, and needing to carefully make my way through a string of heavy traffic, the older man in the car that left me space and let me through, gave me the sweetest, warmest,smile as I drove by, and I waved thank you. I found myself smiling for hours after that brief encounter. "A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart" Proverbs 15:30" So true.

I mentioned to my husband that we need to make reservations for dinner after graduation.

"How about Buffalo Wild Wings?" he joked.

I didn't laugh.

He told me I had no sense of humor.

Moments later I sat down with my Magnificat and read, "To have a sense of humor is to be wise enough to see things in proportion."

I still think his joke was not funny.

Have you ever been to Buffalo Wings?

Then you agree.

Rolling my eyes at him was definitely in proportion.

Today is the feast day of Saint Philip Neri. He is my kind of guy. I was just sharing with my friends that people are always amazed that I am "so religious" because of how I joke all of the time. And I find that funny, because this joy I have? It is rooted in my faith. In college, my therapist would shake her head and tell me, "You tell the saddest stories with a smile on your face." I am sure much of this is an unhealthy avoidance of the present situation, but I pray that some of this might be the self-forgetful joy that Saint Philip Neri so beautifully demonstrates.

And maybe this is why I am so obsessed with those darn birds. Even in the rain, I watch them fly. Even in the grey sky, I hear them sing. No matter the circumstance, you hear them joyfully praising. What could be more beautiful? Isn't that why we are so attracted to the stories of people who overcome terrible obstacles? Isn' that what hope and joy and the light in the dark are all about? I love feeding these birds. By feeding them, I feed my joy. And if you want something to grow, well then...you ought to feed it. Don't you think?