The "stuff"

I was reminded yesterday of how much stuff accumulates as the serenity of summer is replaced by the freneticism of autumn.  The "stuff" I'm talking about is inside, the stuff we hide and do our best to ignore, the nasty little creatures we call stress, anxiety, worry, frustration, and exhaustion.  I was having one of those days where the "stuff" was making itself known.

I'm so glad I decided to go to the screening of Unfinished Song at the Keyano Recital Theatre.  Starring Vanessa Redgrave and Terence Stamp, it was exactly what I needed as an emotional release valve.  A beautiful love story of a grumpy husband and his adoring and dying wife, it did everything that theatre publicist Misty Oakes said it would.  It sent my spirits soaring, and my tears flowing.

As the movie came to an end, two words popped up on the screen: To Family.

To my family: I have enormous gratitude and love for each you.

Heather was nestled in my heart as I sat there watching this lovely story and listening to the unfinished song.  She is on the other side of the continent at the moment attending some training.  She has only been gone a couple of days, but I feel her physical absence, especially in light of the swirl of stuff happening at the moment.

Dylan and Ben both gave me bigger than normal hugs last night.  They are incredibly perceptive and instinctual.  I'm certain they picked up what I was feeling.  I'm equally certain they are missing Heather, the hugs and the love she provides, the warm and cuddly "stuff" that grounds them and rounds out their day.

We all have "stuff", stuff that is good and stuff that is bad.  It's our ability to handle the "stuff" that defines us as human beings.  The strength and the fortitude to manage, provided by my family, is impossible to describe, but yesterday was one of those days when I felt it to my core. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful for their presence in my life.