Krit…

I wrote this over sixteen years ago. Seems like a lifetime and only yesterday at the same time. Our little girl is expecting a little girl of her own. Has me reflecting a lot as Miss and I ponder being grandparents to Daisy Jane and Krit’supandcomer. This morning, Miss and I will be heading back to KC to be with Krit, Josh, Penny, and babybumperintheoven. Carpe diem, friends. Carpe diem.

“And, then she was gone.

This past weekend, Miss and I moved our best girl into her college dorm. What a trip. When we arrived on Friday, the girls ran up to take a look at the room and see what they had to work with. I waited with some of our stuff, kicked to the curb if you will, since I really couldn’t do much with one working wing. Ding in a sling from another bike wreck, damn.

When they returned they looked like they had seen a ghost. The room was a disaster of epic proportions they jointly exclaimed as they blew by me, clearly on a mission. Over the next 24 hours I felt like I was watching one of those “design on a dime” reality shows, except this one had a subplot. Unlike the TV shows with an army of workers ready to go, this one only had the three of us and none were equipped for the heavy lifting soon to be required. On my first trip struggling up to the fifth floor I was greeted by Ali and Mandy and their shrieks.

They jumped in and helped.

Next, Cody, from Hillsboro, grabbed our couch while dropping his clarinet. He had seen Miss and I struggling, and asked if he could help. Yes was the answer. He grabbed the couch and I the clarinet. Neighbors came in and liked what the girls were doing with our room. They brought their daughter for a look and before you knew it the girls were making fast friends. This relationship with the “man” across the hall lasted throughout friday and into saturday. He and his wife shared tools with us and he often grabbed stuff from me to lighten my load. I stopped by and encouraged and thanked him and left it at that. What good was one wing, really?

By Saturday the room was transforming and smiles were returning all around even though hearts were silently sensing something was brewing. We had been admiring the railing Krit’s neighbor had installed to protect our high flying sleepers from a long fall. The “man” across the hall, who was now our “neighbor,” saw our trouble and before we knew it, the railings were installed on both beds! We all laughed and paused a moment to reflect on the kindness of strangers.

The room was complete. The two of them, coupled with Sabrina and her mom, and a group of big hearted volunteers had transformed the “prison cell” into their living room. Very cool to watch. Just as suddenly as I had seen the girls round the corner on Friday with the size of the job in their eyes, the job was done. It was time for us to go. Oh God, please NO.

YES. Yes was the answer. She is ready to go bye-bye. My mind flew back to Krits at two, standing up in her crib upon waking AND exclaiming with vigor, “Shoe, go bye-bye?” This girl has always been ready to go. She is full of life and always going somewhere. She’s in a completely new world now. She knew nobody where she chose to go. She does now.

Krits, thanks for teaching me that deep faith does NOT require deep lines. And, for teaching me so much more. And, remember, we don’t say good bye – only see you later.”