Whatever Occurs: Life, Love, and Loss

You are Up Early

You wake up to eat a midnight snack. You head to the fridge to grab a homemade cereal bar when you get a call from your daughter, Malyssa Cox, very early in the morning. You pick up.

"Hi babe, what are you doing up so early?" You ask.

"I wanted to know if you and Dad could come visit this weekend," she answers.

"I'd love to! But you are up early."

"I can't sleep. Yesterday was really stressful. I tried the good old counting sheep trick, but it obviously didn't work. I tried stretching, but that flopped. It doesn't help that my stomach hurts."

"You probably shouldn't go to work today then."

"I thought about that. I probably won't go. I'll call in and tell my boss."

You get lost in your own train of thought. Then you hear Malyssa hang up.

"I think she might be pregnant again," you think to yourself.

You get up at seven in the morning to prepare for work. Your husband Ethon says, "good morning, love" as you eat your peanut butter waffle loaded with bananas and strawberries.

"Good morning dear," you say to Ethon.

You tell him why you were up for a while. "Malyssa called me really early this morning asking if we could visit her. We should be able to."

"Do you think she might be pregnant again?"

"I believe so."

"I'll be so stoked! But if that's not the deal, I'd still want to see her. With parenting, work, and choir, it's not very often that we see her anymore. Happiness is being a grandparent."

"Cripes. Why do I keep forgetting she also sings in that community choir? I mean, she's only been doing it since Sunday school. She sang before she spoke, after all."

Ethon laughs. You roll your eyes just a little. You check the clock, start your car, and put your purse inside.

"I'm leaving. I love you hon," you say to Ethon.

"I love you too. Be safe!" He replies.

You drive off to work, trying to weave your way through the traffic, since Interstate 5 is closed off for construction.