May 24, 2006
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The Daily News
1 Reflection.
2 Oh my.
3 Yesterday my mom called me with three minutes left in the school day. My dad became really pale and shaky and had to be rushed to the hospital.
4 I dropped everything in life at that second and flew up to her house to see what was wrong. He had just gotten dizzy and weak, and started shaking. He couldn't even push the buttons on the telephone.
5 I met my sister and we took off to the hospital, where he was pale and incoherent. He recognized us, but kept blinking and staring off.
6 Well, they gave him some shots and things, and after around an hour his vitals seemed fine, and the color returned to his cheeks. The doctor was a beautiful, vibrant young lady, and that may have put the blush in his cheeks. Either way, it was good to see him becoming his cheerful and friendly self once more.
7 The Doctor said he was going to be okay, but that he needed to spend the rest of the night in the hospital. We stayed late. He woke up and slowly came to, flirting with the doctor and telling his usual clean jokes.
8 "I'm glad I got a doctor as pretty as you," he said, and meant it in all sincerity.
9 "Why did the chicken cross the playground?" he asked.
10 She hesitated.
11 After a moment came his usual dry response. "To get to the other slide." Deadpan.
12 Later we were watching Idol. Both my sisters were in the hospital room and all of us agreed that Katharine McPhee looked and sounded beautiful. Dad just stared.
13 After a bit of a pause, he spoke out. "I don't know how any of the rest of you feel, but don't you think she looks like an old cow?" More deadpan.
14 That's my dad.
15 The further into this year I get, the more I see what life is all about.
16 It's been quite a week for learning all of that.
17 But miracles come to us all in seemingly small packages.
18 I don't know how many miracles I've seen this week, but there are many, from spinning out of control and suddenly stopping on Friday, to Jenny's wedding, my walk with Thuy through Mountain View, to spending time with my beautiful daughters, and finally, to listening to my dad's subtle wit and charm, and my family rallying together for my father, it's been a week of very real, very spiritual happenings.
19 I pay attention to miracles. Sometimes life throws pain and troubles our way. Sometimes it seems unfair, or even brutal.
20 Ironically, I was listening to a radio station yesterday in which people were calling in and telling about how some of the most difficult times in their lives turned out to be the best things that ever happened to them.
21 I don't always see that, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense, especially in times of pain and troubles.
22 I didn't really go through much pain or trouble this week, but I certainly did this year, sometimes almost unbearable pain. And I kept my arms wide open for a miracle, and none seemed to appear.
23 Looking back, I had lots of miracles. And in the end, I found I think what I was looking for.
24 I found myself, and I realized who was important in my life.
25 These past four days have taught me a lot.
26 It's right in front of you.
27 Just look, you'll find a miracle too.
28 I have the nicest dad on Earth.
29 Know what's important.
29 Peace.
~h~
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