Unplug

     I watched a women walking with a young girl. She was talking on her phone and hung up as they crossed the street. A second glance at the two found the woman on her phone again. It made me feel sad for both of them. Who knows? Perhaps the calls were very important; maybe she was dealing with a crisis. Maybe the time spent talking on the phone would have been better spent talking with the young girl she was walking with. It made me think about when my girls were 7 or eight... that time is gone, I wasn't on a cell phone, but was I listening to them?

     The otherwise engaged woman made me think of the passing of comic genius, Robin Williams. By encouraging our children to talk about their feelings and challenges, encouraging anyone to - couldn't that be life saving? Could hanging up our phones and engaging with our children and our neighbors, our communities and our families save lives? Robin William's life was such a gift to the world and will live on in his work. His death has become a gift of awareness through the media and everyone he touched that we need to hang up our phones and talk with our children, develop relationships and reach out to those who are struggling. Be kind to one another and make a difference in someone's day. Just a smile can mean so much, a kind word, or a gentle touch might be enough to make someone want to wake up another day. Don't we owe it to each other to pay attention to one another face to face and hand in hand?

     I will never get that time back with my daughters. All I have is today, to hang up my phone, put down my ipad, and shut off the TV. Tia (our oldest daughter) wasn't very enthusiastic about working the sidewalk sale at the drug store. When I dropped her off at work I told her you never know what folks are going through and just a smile can change someone's day, she has a lovely smile. I am done grumbling when Zoe asks me to French braid her hair, she looks so beautiful with a French braid & I get to spend time talking with her while my fingers fumble to create the knots. I will enjoy these rare captive moments with my amazing and capable daughters, they will never pass this way again.