Friday, April 01, 2011

Stretching boundaries with Mom and Cousins

My mom fell last Weds. night. My eldest daughter and I drove to the hospital and stayed with her until 11 PM while we waited for CT Scan results. I fully expected the doctor to say that we could all go home when that was complete, but the universe had different ideas.
"I'm sorry. I can't be sure that there is no spinal damage. You will need to drive into Boston."
The ambulance drive looked at me and said: "Will you be following us in?"
I took a step backwards and put my hands up. "No, I can't. Will she be OK without me?"
My mom and the ambulance driver assured me that she would be fine and they sped her off into Boston.
I drove my daughter home and assured myself that I was doing the right thing. I had a big project presentation in the afternoon the next day that I could not miss. I also needed my sleep to be the best Dad that I could be for my kids.
When I got home I looked at my comfortable bed and asked my wife: "If you were in Boston, would you want me to be there?" She said that she absolutely would.
At that moment I realized that my attachment to my job, my routine and my salary was holding me back from being what was most important. A good son.
I grabbed some coffee and drove into town. My mom's face lit up when she saw me. I slept for a few hours on the hospital floor and drove my mom home at 7:00 the next morning.
I was so happy that my spiritual path allowed me to overcome my fears and do the right thing. I managed to get a nap in before the meeting and get it done anyway.

3 Days later my cousin passed on due to a tragic death. I went to the wake, but the funeral was out of the question due to work commitments. My mom asked me if I would be attending the funeral. I immediately responded: No! Then I reflected for a time. Who do I want to be? What is the right thing to do? Do I want to be there for my family?
I changed my mind and went to the funeral. It was the right thing to do. I felt like the universe drove home the point that I needed to overcome my fears and patterns to grow spiritually.