In this season of presidential polling, I thought it might be fun to bring the concept of polling home. Do you have a family member who is consistently in everyone’s good graces? Someone who, like the candidates working so hard to persuade a vote from you, can work the system . . . but of familial love?
Last night I returned from a long weekend away from home. While driving, I began to anticipate rejoining my family. It’s usually the ones left behind who miss the one who is absent, simply because whoever is traveling is so busy with fun or unusual activity and those left behind feel the vacant spot as they go about their normal routine.
So naturally I began to think my family might have missed me, might even be happy to see me the moment I walked in. This is how that moment actually went:
Susie, our Labrador, greeted me at the door, tail wagging, body wiggling in pure joy to see me. Ah! Back in the fold again, what welcome! What happiness! How she’d missed me! This was what it felt like to be taken back in so lovingly.
A moment later, my handicapped son was the first of the two-legged family members to see me. He was looking for someone to turn on the television and so he handed the remote control to me. In his defense, he’s unable to speak so he couldn’t very well tell me he was glad to see me home safe and sound. But a smile, something he’s perfectly capable of, might have been nice; instead he handed me the remote as if I’d come in from the other room, never having been gone. Then my younger son, perfectly healthy, looked up from something he was watching on our Kindle Fire and asked me if he could have the laptop back. (I’d taken it with me.) Finally my husband, who hadn’t heard me come in, did greet me but he was looking for recognition and affirmation about the housework he’d done: no dishes in the sink, vacuumed carpets, things put in order. In retrospect I do believe that’s the best homecoming gift, but in the moment it went past me as I awaited some semblance of joyous reception.
The dog was the only one whose agenda was centered on someone other than herself. So next time I ask myself What Would Jesus Do, I might follow that up with: what would Susie do? I guess that’s why she always polls most popular family member around here.
Due to my website being down for a while during the time we conducted the drawing for Susan Meissner’s newest book, I’m extending the time to join in the drawing. Please leave a comment on this post or last Wednesday’s and I’ll have the name chosen this Wednesday (November 7) for the selected book, The Girl In The Glass. Happy Reading – And thanks again to Susan for providing a free copy of her wonderful new book!
Join Me!